Share and Enjoy » Project 365

Day 7: Weekly Weigh In

Brandon — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:30:35 +0000

The week before Memorial Day, my doctor had a very frank discussion with me about my weight. It was something that I had been ignoring, thinking “I’ll take care of it someday.” I mean, intellectually I knew that it was a problem, and of course I didn’t think it was pretty to look at, but I just couldn’t seem to take on the task. It felt impossible. And it seemed like no matter what I’d tried in the past, nothing worked. I just kept getting bigger. And bigger. I was growing pretty depressed about it, really. I felt powerless. But that day, something just clicked. From the discussion I had with my doctor, I made a few very simple changes which have made a real difference. First, I stopped drinking soda. I was drinking 4 – 6 Dr Peppers a day. I avoid all caffeine and high fructose corn syrup, now as a rule. Next, we used a water consumption calculator to get an idea of how much water I should be drinking to facilitate weight loss. It turns out I was very under-hydrated. I now drink a gallon of water a day. We were already taking evening walks a few times a week, so we just stepped it up a little. Now we go for a walk of at least 1.5 miles 4- 6 nights a week, weather permitting. Finally (and probably most importantly), I started to pay attention to how many calories I was consuming, with a goal of 2200 calories per day, net. It takes planning, but it’s working. Sundays are weigh-in days. I only lost 1 pound this week, but it’s enough to keep me motivated. I am teetering on dropping a pants size. I now buckle my belt on the third hole, where the first hole used to be tight. It’s very satisfying to feel in control, finally.

I’ve also picked Sunday as Weekly Self Portrait Day:

Day 6: Life On Saturdays

Brandon — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:44:54 +0000

This morning we got up and went to the Farmer’s Market. We ran into several friends while there.

After Kaity got home from her friend’s house, we had lunch at Ingredient and did some shopping at the Merc. A storm rolled in as we got home, so we watched “Up In the Air.” The storm dropped the temperature 15F, outside. We took advantage of the mid 70′s temperatures and went for a very pleasant walk on campus.

Day 5: Charlie’s New Ride

Brandon — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 04:48:56 +0000

Today was almost a kid free Friday (we still had Charlie). I took Brae and Hannah to their mother’s for the weekend, and Kaity spent the night with a friend. Kris and Charlie and I enjoyed the evening by going out to eat at Encore. It’s one of our favorite places in Lawrence. After dinner, we went for a walk on campus. It was hot but breezy, so it didn’t seem too bad.

On Charlie’s birthday, she received a card from Poppy and Callista which contained some cryptic statement about hoping she “enjoys her new ride.” Well, her new ride arrived by mail, finally. It’s pretty cool.

Charlie's new ride

Day 4: It’s HOT!

Brandon — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:40:16 +0000

It has been brutally hot for nearly two weeks, now. I’m talking upper 90′s and 90% humidity, with heat indices of 110F or more. The kind of weather that prompts the National Weather Service to issue heat advisories. We have been going for an evening walk nearly every night for a few months, now (excepting a few nights due to rain) – until this week. We have started skipping walks because of the heat. Tonight, we couldn’t take it anymore, and went walking despite the heat. It was still 93F an hour after sunset, when we set out.

Day 3: Peek-a-boo

Brandon — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:33:31 +0000

Recently, Charlie has started playing peek-a-boo with me when I walk in the door from work. Usually she is waiting for me with a big smile on her face. She’s so much fun. I love her to pieces.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Day 2: Off To A Bad Start

Brandon — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:55:51 +0000

My day started off badly. At work, I park in a parking garage. This morning, I attempted to park between a large pickup that was not in its spot straight and a concrete support pole. About half way in, I realized it was getting tight, but it was too late. I scraped the rear passenger’s side door on the pole, while attempting to avoid the truck. Cursing the pole and the idiot who parked the truck [seriously, don't get me started about this woman. She's a birther. 'Nuff said.], I backed out … managing to catch the passenger’s side mirror on the pole, forcibly popping the rear casing off the mirror. My first thought, after yelling several explitives at the top of my lungs, was “Kris is going to kill me.” Frustrated and embarrassed, I stopped the car, got out, and picked up the casing … as a friend and coworker cruised by, staring. One of those friends with whom I have relentlessly made fun of another friend (and coworker) for [... get ready ...] hitting a pole in a parking garage when no one was around. A, y’know, one car accident. “Great. I’m never going to live this down, *if* I’m still alive after Kris finds out,” I thought. .

Obviously she didn’t kill me. She didn’t even yell at me. Nope. She just reminded me of *every* scrape and dent I’ve accumulated over the last six years. I think having my wife imply I can’t drive is worse than having the corner of my man card clipped.

Day 1: Happy Birthday to Me

Brandon — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:25:38 +0000

I figured since even Charlie has done a project 365, it was high time for me to get by butt in gear and be like the cool kids. The timing was pretty good, too, since Charlie’s project 365 ended two days ago. Oh, and today happens to be my birthday. Happy birthday to me! To start things off, I’ll throw in a self portrait.

Me at the end of a long day

Day 364: Birthday Girl

Kris — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:22:46 +0000

Exactly one year ago today, I looked like this:

Hello World

Today, on my first birthday, I look like this:

Cutie Pie

It was extra hot in Kansas today, so my birthday picnic party was cut a little short so we could enjoy the ice cream (and air-conditioning) at Sylas and Maddy’s while I figured out the whole present thing. And to make my first birthday extra special, my Mimi flew up from Arkansas, and my buddies Spencer, Xavier, Cordelia & Lorelei (and their mommy) came all the way from Texas to see me for my birthday! Best present ever!

Day 363: Popsicles

Kris — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 01:21:30 +0000

Make me happy.

Day 362: Balls

Kris — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:18:34 +0000

Lots of my toys have balls. I like to mix and match them. Here are just a few of the ones in my collection.