As of today, I have lost 1.9 pounds since I kicked off Project 600512 a little over one week ago.
The diet portion has gone pretty well. I’ve been trying to do my best to cut out junkfood and cut back on food portions.
Today I added the physical fitness portion of the plan. I did 10 sit-ups and 15 “on knees” pushups. I plan on adding one to each every other day.
In 2005 I was blessed with the chance to be offered a full time job at the church I grew up in. The job title, that I created, was Technology Coordinator. I like to joke that if it is plugged into a wall, I probably deal with it: computers, lighting systems, sound systems, and the projection system.
I’ll be totally honest, there are days I think to myself: “is it time to move on to something else?” I want to spend more time with my family. It’s not fair to them that I have a work schedule that takes me away from the house on Saturday nights, Sunday mornings, Monday nights, and occasionally Wednesday evenings. It makes planning family events really hard on a weekend when I know I need to be back to work by 3pm on a Saturday to put the sermon slides together for the projection screens and get ready for 5pm church. Then something like today happens….
The first Bear went and poured out his bowl on Soldier Field, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the Golden G and worshiped its image.
The second Bear poured out his bowl on Lake Michigan, and it turned into burnt orange like that of a Bears fan, and every living Packer near the sea died.
The third Bear poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became Navy Blue.
The fifth Bear poured out his bowl on the throne of Lombardi, and its team was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed Halas because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
The sixth Bear poured out his bowl on the great river Chicago, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the monsters of the midway from the lake front.
Then I saw three impure fans that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the Rogers, out of the mouth of the Matthews and out of the mouth of the false prophet McCarthy. They are demonic fans that perform signs, and they go out to corners of the whole world, to gather all football fans for the battle on the great day of January 23rd, 2011.
“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains warmly clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed in this extreme cold.”
Then they gathered the players together to the place that in Chicagoian is called Soldiers Field.
The seventh Bear poured out his bowl into the cold air, and out of the owners box came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!”
Then there came flashes of fireworks, rumblings of feet, peals of confetti and a massive cheer. No cheer like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the noise. For it sounded like this: “Bear down Chicago Bears…”
The great state of Wisconsin split into three parts, and the cities of the state collapsed. Halas remembered Chicago the Great and gave her the trophy inscribed with the words “NFC Champions”.
The time as come for me to do something I never thought I’d actually do… lose weight *gasp* I have been overweight for most of my life, and frankly, Ive never cared. I’m perfectly content with who I am. But, being a dad change things. It’s not just about me anymore. It’s about Melissa… Maggie… and Claire.
So, I have decided to take on the challenge of dropping 60 pounds from my 6’3″ body. I dont currently know my EXACT weight, but I believe it to be in the 270-280 lb range. I will be weighing myself int he next few days to establish my starting weight. But the goal is still the same: lose 60 pounds by May 1, 2012. I could very well lose it much fast than that, but May 1, 2012 is the goal. Hence the name of the project: 60-05-12.
How can you keep track of my progress? I’ll be doing a few things to help keep myself honest.
Through all of these sources, I’ll be posting what I eat and when. Why? I want YOU to keep me honest.
The journey begins… now!
(Click to Enlarge)
When Melissa and I picked August 27, 2005 as our wedding date, we had no idea our first few days of marriage would be impacted by one of the most destructive natural disasters in American history.
We were set to depart from Solon, IA on Monday, August 29, 2005. Destination: Disney World. The route included stops in St. Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina had other plans for us.
Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Slidell, LA on the very same day we were set to head south. As a result, I spent Sunday afternoon canceling hotels and looking for a new route.
The new route included stops in St Louis, Lexington, and Charleston. Ironically, despite the new route, we did end up drive through the remains of Katrina in Kentucky. But, it was nothing more than a moderate rain storm.
It’s an interesting way to start off a new marriage, but perhaps an appropriate metaphor: Sometimes in life if you are headed down a path where troubles lie ahead, you need to change paths.
Happy 5th Anniversary to my absolutely wonderful wife Melissa. Here’s to 45 more!
PS: The Cornfield Mafia shall rise again.
