If I Can Lose It...

Day #28 - The Day of Reckoning

2012-02-25T21:20:00.001-05:00

activerain.com

Last night my son Josh happily announced that he had suddenly gained six pounds. He is after all quite thin, and I while I could understand his joy and support his efforts to gain weight, I had no choice but to follow through on my threat to the scale that if it continued in its inappropriate actions I would return it for an exchange.
This afternoon I went to the store with said scale under my arm and returned it from whence it came. The new scale is identical in every way except that the price had gone up by $10 (which I was not asked to pay) and it is new. In its newness it has not had time to go digitally insane. For the time being, it will be identified as the magnificent product of German engineering, sitting in a place of honor outside the bathroom door....
I did not bother to weigh myself today since the old scale was clearly unreliable, and the new one did not enter the house until too late in the day to measure anything. Tomorrow morning will be its first test.
Either I will be looking at measurements that relate to what I've believed over the last several weeks, or I will be forced to realize that when I started on my newest offensive against weight gain I was six pounds heavier than I thought I was. It's not that it would be so terrible, since I have been able to ascertain that over the last three weeks I have at least been losing weight, but the starting weight would have to be adjusted upward.
Truly annoying, but not a deal killer:-) Okay?
See ya' tomorrow.

Day #27 - But What Is To Be Believed?

2012-02-24T19:47:00.001-05:00

Just Another Day on Times Square

Yeah, as much as I hate to admit it, I'm afraid that I need to come to terms with the possibility that my scale has been displaying incorrectly all along, and the random numbers that show my weight as being much higher are the real numbers. Frankly, this idea is the nightmare of anyone working to lose the excess pounds, but if I don't look at it I will only be living in a deluded version of what I'm doing. The only reason to do that would be so that I could go along believing that I weigh less than I do.

I refuse!

As I've mentioned before, when the scales tells me that I'm light - I am! When it tells me that I'm heavy - then that's what I feel! I need accuracy!

What I really want is a scale that tells me the truth so that when I'm told I'm lighter - it's the absolute fact, no questions. What does this all mean? It means that yet again I am heading back to the store to trade in a semi-functioning scale for one that, as one of my online friends describes it, as simply consistent.

Real results are on the way:-)

Day #26 - Not to say I told you so, but...

2012-02-23T21:44:00.001-05:00

It's Georgina!

Georgina just mentioned to me that the heretofore mentioned scale-of-evil took it upon itself to display four (count 'em) pounds more than she has been weighing on a daily basis for quite awhile now. Day after day she has measured her perfectly weighted body, and wam, all of a sudden - four pounds more! I knew it! It's good to have agreement about something so insidious that it could one day undermine the stability of the spinning of the planet about the sun! I have been vindicated!

Huzzah, etc...

Day #25 - There are days when...

2012-02-22T20:14:00.002-05:00

http://clips.whelliston.com

I know that this will be very difficult to believe but some days I don't have than much to say. Let em explain... most of the time I want to talk about my process, I want to tell the world what and how I'm doing. Why, you ask, the hell would I want to do that? The answer is that I have a need to let others know what I'm doing because I know that the information is transferable. What I've been through over the course of my life, in terms of being overweight almost all of the time, and having tried virtually every possible way to change that only to fail again and again... has real bearing on what works. That's been the basis for all of this - trying to let others know that there is hope. It is not only possible to take control of one's weight, but the l fact is exactly as I've stated it. I originally described the experience as If, I Can Lose It... As it turned out I could, and did, lose it. Yes, I gained some of it back, and now I'm losing it again. I personally do not claim that I'm perfect, but I am claiming that using the process that I'm using is. It's perfect because it's all about each individual taking complete charge of their own weight. That's it. I dodn't have much to say but I'm saying it anyway. Think about this: if you read this far, maybe you wanted to read the little I had to say:-) Gotcha!

Day #24 - Remembering the early days of Gravitophobia...

2012-02-21T19:05:00.003-05:00

http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org

That's right the fear of the bathroom scale is called Gravitophobia (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog). Who knew?
Still, I do think it's good to look back to the when I originally began working on myself in this particular way (the way that actually works:-). It used to be that I would avoid any confrontation with the scale for fear that it would be telling me my own worst secrets. I know what it's like to weigh myself, and know that I'm putting on pounds and understanding, to my great discomfort, that there is nothing I can do about it.
Really, I had gotten to the point of giving away all my old "skinny" clothes. This was something I had never done before. That's right, I had never once done that in all the years of constant weight gain. Some of the jeans I gave away were older than my son! That move was me, simply giving up on ever having any control at all. I had resigned myself to a future of growing larger and larger, always buying the largest sizes to hide my body, and endlessly feeling a certain amount of shame at being unable to change what was clearly a huge problem in my life.
My, how times have changed!

Day #23 - Just Another Day

2012-02-20T20:34:00.000-05:00

users.elite.net/runner/
jennifers/thankyou.htm

I have nothing kind, nor bizarre, nor strange, nor evil, nor pithy, nor insightful, nor wondrous to say about this day. I got on the scale this morning and all is well. I haven't lost nor have I gained. The only thing of real interest is how many times I've used the word nor in this post. Just another good day.
It's always good to say, Thank you.

Thank you.

Day #22 - What Happened to Day #21?

2012-02-19T17:23:00.001-05:00

The Kracken

I slept late yesterday morning, got up, fed the cats and had some coffee. Georgina and I went shopping and cleaned the house. What's missing from this scenario? The part where I weighed myself!
I didn't do it!
I went an entire day without. It was like being in some weird sci-fi thriller. What the heck, you say?!
I just decided to throw caution to the wind, and wait for today which has turned out to be a good thing, 'cause when I weighed myself I was down to 182.8!
Imagine that, a day without me obsessing, and I still managed to continue on in this downward path. Will wonders never cease?

Uh... No!

Day #20 - Is It Mind Over Matter or..?

2012-02-17T19:45:00.000-05:00

nationalinterest.org

When the scale tells me that I've lost weight I feel like I have indeed lost weight; my step is lighter, I feel more free and easy, my attitude is superior. When the scale tells me that I have gained weight (or not lost when I'm trying to do so), I feel like I have lead weights strapped to my feet, my pants become snug, I become a lumbering grotesque creature.
The only problem is that I have clearly ascertained that my scale is quite often wrong, and yet my psyche is so easily swayed by that wretched lying ner-do-well!
Am I a product of what that chunk of metal tells me? Yes, I'm sorry to report that I am. Am I to spend the rest of my days on this planet searching for an honorable scale that will not display a measurement that is so wrong that I am moved to get off and get back on for another try, or five?
Yes, oh yes, I am a man on a mission:-)

Day #19 - If I Reported Every Number Every Day

2012-02-16T19:55:00.000-05:00

howdididoit.com

If I put every number reported to me by that so called "scale" (okay, it really is a scale, but you do get the point right?) the charted graphic would look like the jagged mouth of a Halloween Pumpkin! My weight apparently varies by as much as six pounds from day to day! And yes, I weigh myself at exactly the same time every day... What am I to do, but report the numbers that I like, and ignore those that work to destroy my sense of astounding victory?

Everyone does what must be done, right?

Am I lying to myself? Not at all...

The fact is that when I see my record low weight being digitally mocked after two straight days of diminishing numbers, by a sudden upward surge (and this on a day after a nothing less than magnificent effort on my part) I am left with no real choice but to call that dastardly mechanized villain out into the street where we will settle things!

Well what do you know, gravity is stronger out in the street than in my bathroom... I think I'll just settle down and accept the low numbers and ignore the high ones... Isn't that where this started?

Yep, yep, yep...

Day #18 - What a World

2012-02-15T20:45:00.002-05:00

Cool, I can quote my own book:-p

Some days are certainly better than others, and on those days I spend my time glowing and crowing about whatever success has graced my world of weight control. Other days I have issues with an inanimate chunk of technology that rules how I feel about my weight and consequently, often as not, my sense of self worth. The fact is, that no matter the measurement by which the pull of gravity on the material of my body is calculated, I am always me. I have always been this person, and I am happy about that, no matter if I complain about the ongoing trial of strength between me and the evil that is my scale. Being who I am is a gift. Who am I to complain about that? What I'm getting at, in my round about way, is some days I'm heavier than on other days, and that used fact to rule my life. Now I know how much control I really have, if I don't get too attached to getting to where I want to go - quickly. Here I am on day 20, and I've lost a small amount of weight. Excellent! Does this mean that I'll not be complaining tomorrow? Common, I'm still the way I am; impatient, sometimes grouchy, often opinionated, and an all round great human being with no flaws of any kind.-)

Day #17 - Ode to Thee Oh Scale of My Dreams

2012-02-14T18:17:00.000-05:00

flickrhivemind.net/User/HRSG/Interesting

Dear Scale:
First, let me begin by offering my sincere apologies for the terrible things I've been saying about you over the last few days. How was I to know that you were just fooling around with me, antagonizing me with displays of an additional of three pounds when I expected to be seeing only a few scant tenths of a pound loss. Surely, you can understand why I would tell my friends of your wayward attitudes and wanton ways. I know now that you have a sense of humor, or why would you have tortured me in the first place? With that in mind I 'm hoping that we might continue our relationship of mutual respect and admiration. Have I mentioned how nicely your platform gleams in the morning light as it streams through the window in the early dawn? I clearly remember how your digital numbers sparkled with a wonderful intensity this morning. The pretty little buttons around the face of your dial looked so perfect, and particularly desirable today I could barely keep myself from pushing a few of them, even though I have no real concept of what any of them do. My weight today as you well know was down to 184.6! What a way you have with numbers!
Happy Valentine's Day my love,
J*

Day #16 - Successes No Matter How Small...

2012-02-13T21:36:00.002-05:00

Just a favorite place:-)

Today the number stands at 185.2 in spite of the scale's intention to add three or four random pounds just to get a reaction out of me (quite successfully, I might add), I am intent of celebration my victories and ignoring the naysayers (are you hearing me demento-scale?!)
Today then stands as supreme when compared to all other days, well at least to yesterday during which a certain scale was having its little joke with me. what then is really different about today?
Nothin' - I'm good, same as usual:-)

Day #15 - The Scale Taketh Away and The Scale...

2012-02-12T20:11:00.001-05:00

Image taken from lalalandhistory.blogspot.com

Well everyone knows yesterday's grand and spectacular loss of weight, according to the that two-timing, double dealing scale sitting in a secure, though undisclosed location, outside the bathroom door.

Oh sure, yesterday it was all smiles and pleasantries, and today it's displaying numbers impossible to comprehend as realistic. Is it looking for a fight?

The way things stand now is that I'm making the choice to fully believe the results displayed on days that align with I want to see, and to ignore its hateful lying behavior on days like this one.

Hey, I feel good. My pants are not tight. Life is great. Let it be duly noted that the scale is treading on some very thin ice. Either the two of us will be stepping into the street at high-noon to settle things or it may soon be seeing the inside of the store from which it originally emanated with, returned as defective stamped on its readout window.

"And on and on..."

j*

Day #14 - Now that I'm so incredibly superior...

2012-02-11T16:52:00.000-05:00

If Disney asks me to remove it - I will. OK?

Oh yes, it is good to know that I am superior to an inert chunk of plastic and metal operated by sensors and a couple of batteries, because as you know, at this time yesterday I was having some serious doubts...
As it turns out I have dropped to 185.8 - in spite of that ridiculous 3 pound increase that was seen yesterday, like a bad dream. Alas, the abject horror of that memory lingers although the chill has now gone from my bones in spite of the change in the weather.
My step is lighter, my pants are looser and I am, quite obviously - the King. As Mel Brooks said, "It's good to be the King." Couldn't a put it better myself:-)

Day #13 - Today's Awful Burning Question

2012-02-11T10:58:00.000-05:00

Image found online and altered by yours truly:-p

I am a creature of habit, so when I say that I weigh myself at the same time everyday (yes, I finally found a place outside of the bedroom so that I could use the scale without waking the lovely Georgina:) I mean quite literally I use it at the exact same time each and every weekday morning, and at an equivalent time on the weekends. Yet I'm left with a question that's certainly making me crazy at the moment: the reading that I got on the scale this morning was three pounds heavier than what I've been seeing over the last week!
My mind experienced one of those collapse moments wherein - nothing makes sense.
Now I don't mean to complain, but in my mind it simply cannot be. There is no way that I gained three pounds.Still, I got on and off the scale several times in absolute disbelief, and still it maintained it's story.
It must be said that I did consider in that moment the morality of using torture on the enemy, though finally decided in the negative. You know me...normally, I would just write this mornings event off as just another exhibition of bizarre scale behavior, and toss the thing out the second story window, but here I am working to shave off the pounds, a tenth of a pound at a time, and that leaves me somewhat sensitive and vulnerable to what the damned vile thing has to say. And that leaves me at the mercy of its evil lying ways. I suppose I really have no choice but to wait until tomorrow to discover the actual truth...
Right now I really do not know what I weigh! Oh the humanity!
I think I'll just run upstairs now and use the elliptical trainer. What? Oh, no reason, no reason at all I just feel like spending a lot of energy going nowhere for about half an hour, is all:-)

Day #12 - Really? Two tenths of a pound?

2012-02-09T20:07:00.000-05:00

Yep that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Today for all my diligent work yesterday, all the water, all the exercise, all the bragging about those two tenths of a pound I lost. Well gang, today they've come back for a visit. Is - it annoying? Well, yeah I have to admit that it is - a small amount, but I'll get over it.
Okay then - I'm over it. These things really don't take that much time for me, because of the way my pants fit today. They're not tight. Do I really care what the scale says? Well yeah I do, but I care more about how I feel and I feel great. Let's just see what happens tomorrow.

I do feel great today. Does the scale lie?

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn... Hated the movie, but love the sentiment:-p

Day #11 - That's What I'm Talkin' About

2012-02-08T21:23:00.000-05:00

Just another gallery NYC

I'm way down to 186.8. It may not sound like much to anyone else, but I will take those .2 pounds do a couple of back-flips and strut my stuff (so to speak:). The fact remains; any drop is a drop. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I'm satisfied that what I know to be right... is indeed - right!

Does this mean that what I had to say yesterday is incorrect? Nope, that was right and needed to be said. Does it mean that I am now going to great extremes to reach my goal? Do you not know me by now?

What I'm doing now is what I have been doing all along, and I'm doing it while paying full attention to it, rather than having it bring my attention to it. When I wait for it to come to me, well friends, my pants end up getting tighter instead of looser:)

An on and on...

Day #10 - Ah, the Wonder of Self Sabotage

2012-02-07T19:19:00.001-05:00

I like to believe that I am a very honest person, and when it comes right down to it - I really am. The problem is, that while I work diligently to tell others the truth, I sometimes fall into the tendency to tell myself little white lies - so that I can have what I want. Well duh! Anybody relate to that one..?

Yes I'll admit it, an added minute or two tacked onto whatever exercise I get... avoiding noting down a calorie or two on things I eat. I've done it, and I've done it recently, after which I wonder why the things that I know work for me - don't work!:-) See the pattern here?

As perfect as I am the way I am, I still have the desire to lose a few more pounds. Do I know how to make it happen? Of course I do! Do I sometimes stand in my own way? Uh yeah... I do.

Here, I have all the tools right at hand to do exactly what I want to do, but if I use those tools to bolster inaccurate numbers it's a lot like trying to hammer a nail with a screwdriver. I end up setting myself up to fail. Just great!

No, all is not lost, but let's face it what needs to happen is that I need to come clean with myself and move forward. That's exactly what I'm doing here. Nuff said?

Day #9 - The day after that special day

2012-02-06T18:07:00.000-05:00

El Greco nobleman with hand on chest

Right... the day after the day I thought I'd see that oh-so-special and significant drop on the scale, and didn't. Don't rub it in... -p What am I gonna do about it? Nothing at all, and I do mean nothing. I'm not even getting on the scale today. Now I know that this attitude sounds all stalwart and noble and all, but I suppose I should admit that on weekdays I get up early, so early in fact that getting on the scale is not possible. Clearly, you cannot know what the heck I mean by that, but listen: we have a scale that needs to be activated each time previous to stepping on-board. Activation requires a person to step down hard on the scale which in turn makes a loud banging noise. Although I am up Georgina is still sleeping, and the scale is in the bedroom (to discover why it's in the bedroom you'll need to read the book). Anyway, you see where I'm going with this, right? I just don't want to wake up the lovely Georgina.

Hmmm, seems like no matter what do I come off as being incredibly noble. Ah well.-)

Life goes on. We'll see what we see tomorrow.

Day #8 - And I think I'm so smart...

2012-02-05T19:10:00.000-05:00

dotsunderconsonants.wordpress.com

I was full of expectation this morning, and no it had nothing to do with the Super Bowl. It was about getting there from here.

I circled the unsuspecting scale wthat I with cunning and stealth. Surely, it had no idea that it was being stalked, however it did not properly report on my previously forecast, and much ballyhooed, weight loss. Instead it quite frivolously reported a .4 pound gain! After a solid week of diligent focus on what I ate and how much I burned, I now weigh 187.4 pounds!

Yes, I know I went the wrong way! Really, it's quite rude of you to have pointed that out... don't you think? Yes. Fine, I accept your apology.

Nevertheless, I know I'm on the right track, so I am enabled to continue until I see the results I know are possible. As usual patience is my lesson, and I shall endure the eternity of waiting for tomorrow. What, you ask, is that sound? That, my friends, is the sound of the drumming of my fingers on the desk...

Drumming fingers, truth be told, has no relationship to calorie burning. With that in mind I'm heading up stairs to challenge the elliptical machine to a duel. Wish me luck.

Day #7 - Today It's About Water:-)

2012-02-04T19:16:00.002-05:00

Searched "funnel" and found this in several places.

Having the day off is perfect for the process of pouring water (somewhat funnel-like) through my body. Other days really don's seem all that conducive to the practice. Teaching in a classroom keeps a person in check. There's simply no reasonable way to excuse myself six or seven times in three hours.)

I did jump on the scale this afternoon to sneak a peek at what I might expect tomorrow morning when I "officially" weigh in. Truth be told it wasn't looking all that good, but I've seen that sort of thing before.It can be deceptive. Anyway, I'm holding steady at the moment - having gained back the .4 pounds I lost earlier in the week. No worries though, I've seen that before as well.

What I know for sure is that I know how to get to where I want to go and I know how to get there. If I don't see what I want to see this week I'll surely see it next. I can wait.

Does that time-frame make me want to leap for joy? Not exactly... however what does make me feel really great is being in charge.

I know exactly how to do this, and that is exactly what I'm doing...

Come-on tomorrow.

Excuse me... gotta run.

Day #6 - Losin' It Now... Again

2012-02-03T19:55:00.000-05:00

I feel good today. I walked both ways to the subway and back (which is good for exactly 24 minutes of "walking fast"), and I spend another 24 minutes on the good ol' elliptical machine. Strange how I've had a change in my relationship with an inert machine designed to torture the human body. Tonight for dinner we had home made fried chicken! OMG it was incredible and I had no problem working it into my live-it. The one thing that I can't seem to get on board with in an ongoing way is the drinking of the water.

Really? Eight glasses? Do we know how much that equals in trips to the bathroom?

Please!

Fine. I'll start drinking more water tomorrow, okay?

Day #5 - I Made a New Friend Today

2012-02-02T17:32:00.000-05:00

Image snagged from http://thatslikewhoa.com

Marie is my new friend on My Fitness Pal, and she is to be acknowledged as the first person who has ever thought to discover me there as "ificanloseit" - I felt somewhat surprised and very honored.-p

Other things have been happening as well... a couple of days ago If I Can Lose It... was #1 in two categories on Amazon Kindle: Personal Transformation and Weight Management. Currently, it's hoovering around #54, but such things are not the measure of how I would gauge the success of the book. Knowing that the message is spreading, that people are understanding and taking personal control of their own weight, is.

There is simply no better feeling... Well, there is getting on the scale and seeing it all work - that's good too.-)

Day #4- I Can Lose It - Again

2012-02-01T21:54:00.001-05:00

Down by .4lbs today.

I love seeing progress when it's in the intended direction.

Second official weigh-in will be on Sunday.

Onward and downward.

Day #2 - I Can Lose It - Again:-p

2012-01-30T16:59:00.000-05:00

Today my weight remains the same, and my spirits remain high. As usual I walked both directions to and from the subway. This effort results in 24 minutes of walking at a fast pace which is equal to 168 calories, or in layman's terms 2 2/3 of my favorite Brent & Sams Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies. (Disclosure: Why yes, that is a link to Amazon - if you use it and then end up buying anything there - I make a few cents:) Also today I watched a half hour TV program while using the eliptical trainer (it is cold outside, ya know?). I am now officially ahead of the game. We shall see what happens by next Sunday:-) Hint: I've been down this raod before, and I know exactly where I'm heading...

That's the thing, isn't it? I want to continue to eat a cookie or two if I darn well want to, and I need to be willing to take full responsibiltiy for what that means, if I really intend to be in control of my weight.

Life is good.

Making choices is what we all do every day anyway.

See you tomorrow.

-J*

2012-01-29T17:58:00.003-05:00

Continuing With the Truth

I do feel reluctant to write when things aren't going perfectly.

Remember Dr. Atkins and all those rumors that were floating around about how he weighed rather a lot toward the end of his life? Did that reflect on how his methods worked of failed? Would it make him less of a diet guru if the rumors turned out to be true? The real question should be: did you ever lose weight using his ideas?

What would happen if Valerie Bertinelli were to pack on the pounds again? Would that mean that the Jenny Craig diet didn't work? Not really.

Jennifer Hudson is now in the spotlight for Weight Watchers. She's beautiful now, and she was beautiful before she lost the weight. However, she has a new book to promote, and she's the spokesperson for WW, so for the time being she really has no choice but to stay on track. Kind of a lot of pressure don't'cha think? But one might say being under pressure might be a good thing when it comes to this subject... One might, but all I can say is that in real life we are all pressured in one way or another, and sometimes let's face it, we do not live up to how we think things should be. I wish the very best for both of these women - they've done the work and they deserve the credit.

And then, there's me... not a celeb but I am the guy who said that I could do it without paying money to do it, and here I am having to tell you that I've gained almost pounds back.! "TEN POUNDS?" you scream!

Hey, I said almost, didn't I? Don't exaggerate, okay?

Anyway, I said it. Here's the truth - I weigh more now than I did when I finished the book.

Oh the horror!

For more than a year I maintained my weight but then I gained those pounds over Christmas. Up until this moment I haven't focused on taking them off. But then yesterday I noticed that my pants were fitting just a bit tighter. Since I don't like that feeling I'm now doing something about it. Am I signing up for instruction from someone smarter or more knowledgeable about how to lose weight than I could possibly understand all on my own? Will I be spending money to really understand how to do it. Puh-leaze! You've read the book right?:-)

Over the next few weeks I'll be going through the process all over again here in the blog - in real time. Today I weigh 187. (That's right - when I was writing the book I said I'd be taking off 50 pounds, but I never got that far. When I'd lost 30 I decided that I was fine with that. We'll see how far I go this time.

I do want to be clear about this. Losing weight is not a matter of taking it off and then everything is perfect, is it. For those of us dealing with it, it is a lifelong process. Sometimes we have everything under control, and sometimes we pay no attention and end up with more pounds than we want. The trick, as I see it, is to accept ourselves for what and who we are. When we gain some weight that we do not want - we have the ability to take it off. All we need are the right tools, and - the desire.

This is the new day #1

Reality Check

2011-09-09T09:13:00.000-04:00

I find that it's more difficult than I thought it would be to post in this blog in an ongoing way, in spite of the fact that I still have things to say:-)

So what's new? My weight continues to drop, although more slowly than I would have expected... The closer I get to my goal the slower it goes, but really so what? I had to pull in my belt another notch on a few days ago. Very cool. More and more people are reading the book and letting me know their of their successes. Very gratifying.

Really though, I thought that when I wrote about what I was doing that it would be like building a better mouse trap and that people would flock to my door (so to speak). It hasn't happened that way. Instead I'm discovering that people are more skeptical about weight loss ideas than ever. Like me, they have been burned so many times it's hard for them to believe in anything.

What do I do about that? Nothing at all. The way I see it is that eventually If I Can Lose It will be such common knowledge that the book will seem like someone simply stating the obvious. Now that I think about it - that's exactly what I was doing, but somehow the obvious has become clouded by the high impact marketing techniques of sellers of diet programs, diet bars, diet cereals, fast weight loss schemes, machines that freeze fat cells (oh yes, they do exist), and on and on. My book right now is like a voice calling out a simple truth in the wilderness. What I know is that according to what we all intrinsically know - is that in end the truth will prevail:-)

It's simple really: much like my weight loss goal, spreading the word about the book is slow but steady. Inversely, as my weight goes down the book sales go up:-) Life is good.

The Queens Gazette Thinks I Might Be On To Something:-)

2011-07-21T10:51:00.002-04:00

Not Just Another Diet Book

BY CRISTINA GUARINO

The failing of most weight loss guides is that they are strict, regimented plans complete with recipes, rules and long lists of do’s and don’ts. However, this approach is exactly what Astoria resident Jonathan Ellis shuns in his revolutionary new book, If I Can Lose It... A Middle Aged Tech Fanatic’s Extraordinary Journey & Guide-Book for Losing Weight.
Rather than bombard the reader with a rigid program to achieve weight loss, Ellis simply aims to inspire and change the reader’s approach to weight control through a detailed journey of his own success.
His personal journey, as the reader discovers, included an increase in visits to Astoria Park as well as a change in the way he viewed the human body from the perspective of technology.
“I don't tell anyone how to lose weight,” Ellis explains, “only how I lost it.”
The book includes insights, thought processes and other data recorded during his journey to a healthier lifestyle, all of which are intended to positively influence the reader’s view on his or her own attempts at weight loss. It also, while remaining positive, stays realistic. Rather than make claims about a secret trick that magically transforms one’s body, as is rampant in the weight loss industry, it details both Ellis’ successes and mistakes, his moments of gratification and of disappointment, which make for a guide that is as honest as it is refreshing.
Reader reviews of If I Can Lose It... have described the book as “careful to skewer the diet industry, entertainingly, from the beginning” and “a valuable read for anyone who wants to lose weight, particularly if you have tried and tried and have given up the ghost on that particular goal.”
When asked about the writing process, Ellis said, “I began to write when I had lost the first 11 pounds and knew that I had discovered something that could be communicated to others without my making rules for them to follow.” His love of technology has aided this process not only by giving him new ways to view his body, but by giving him access to many handy diet and exercise calculating tools that are seldom used by the average dieter.
Ellis has been a resident of Astoria for 12 years. His goal in writing If I Can Lose It... was to change the way dieters view the process of losing weight by taking control of their own personal lifestyle, rather than following guidelines and rules that could possibly be unhealthy or not suitable for each individual.
“There’s nothing that makes me happier than to hear those stories of success,” Ellis said. “Not as an acknowledgment of what I have done, but rather what they have done.”

A Man I Met On the Amazon Boards

2011-06-21T19:02:00.000-04:00

Brent Butler read If I Can Lose It... and has just posted the following about his success:

One week progress report:

For the last week I've used a similar method for tracking what I eat to the method Jon describes in his book. I'm using a web site called SparkPeople.com instead of the one Jon has used. I doubt its any better than Jon's recommeded site, I just found it more conveniently as both an iPad app and regular web site, and my account logs in through both. In looking at EVERYTHING we were consuming, both my wife and I quickly tipped to some eating mistakes we had not been paying attention to. For example, I read Jon's book Sunday night a week ago, and we had already eaten dinner. My wife made a ham dinner with a vegetable and macaroni and cheese. When I found the web site and got set up, I entered what we ate for dinner. Kraft macaroni and cheese dinner ... 400 calories and little to no food value received in return. The leftover is still in a dish in the refrigerator, and likely we should just throw it out, because I can't imagine I'm ever going to want to eat any of it again. LOL Mac and Cheese is a somewhat regular staple of many home cooked meals. Fiber is low at 1.5 grams. Protein is at or below the levels of other family meal vegetables that could be substituted for it with no notice taken. 19 grams of fat for something that just tastes OK ... its not even a guilty pleasure. LOL

With that lesson learned, we started to do some more research. We read again about lot of foods we already knew about but were just out of correct eating habits. I don't drink diet drinks ... can't stand the taste. Recently I've probably had one or two cans of carbonated drinks a day ... at 150 to 200 calories per. I had exactly ONE all this week. I went on the water drinking campaign suggested by Jon, and many other places as well. I'm almost certainly drinking more than the eight 8 oz glasses suggested. I tend to drink more like 12 ounces at a time and I'm probably doing 9 to 12 a day. That much water does tend to kill off a certain percentage of snack craving. I also discovered that one grape tomato actually satisfies a snack craving for me just as well as three oatmeal cookies used to. The difference in calories? 2 for one grape tomato ... 225 for three oatmeal cookies. LOL

By adjusting what we've eaten this week to be more efficient, I'm actually eating far fewer calories than indicated by the program calculated by the web site, which I had set for 1.5 pounds per week. I probably cut 1000 to 1500 calories per day out of my consumption. Yet I'm feeling less hungry between meals, not more. When I do feel hungry I'm not minding it as much, probably because I'm over all the extra sugar that was in my daily consumption. I actually have more energy, because once again, I'm not running on sugar like I was 10 days ago.

Net result, I lost 5 pounds in seven days instead of 1.5 pounds. I don't seriously think I will continue to lose 5 pounds a week. The lower the percentage of body fat gets, the more reluctant the body is to shed what is left. However, its a very validating start, and if I continue at 1.5 pounds per week from now on I'll be quite happy.

My goal is to lose 20 pounds from the start of the diet, then asses what I look like at that point and decide if I should go another 5. I didn't start this at what anyone looking at me would consider to be overweight, yet I look "rounder" to myself in the mirror than I know I should. After I've lost the 20 (or 25) pounds, I'll increase my calories back up to a higher maintenance level to stop losing weight. I may even be able to throw back in a couple more of my cherished Cherry Dr. Peppers (per week) at that point! LOL

4th of July week will be a blip in the effort though. We're having a cook out, which means hamburgers, hotdogs, baked beans, and potato salad. I might gain back two pounds that week. I've already thought through the need to plan ahead for the 4th, Labor Day (another traditional cookout in our family), Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. I should have the weight loss goal comfortably in hand before Thanksgiving. Then I'll look to gain no more than two pounds each for the upcoming three holidays, and go back on the weight loss calorie level for the month of January.

We'll see how reality meets plan now.

The above was copy/pasted without alteration

So Many Opinions

2011-05-10T09:02:00.001-04:00

Blame. Judgement. Lazy. Dumb. Fat. Skinny. Ugly. Ignorant. Sad. Moron. Bogus. Fat people are better. Skinny people are better. Studies? Ridiculous. Finger pointing. Who is right? Who is wrong? What is true? What is false? Reaction. Angry words. Angry thoughts. Angry lives. Angry at? Shame on... who? Searching. Working. Pride? Acceptance? Leading where? Dealing with what we are given no matter what anyone says. Until love.

The Digital World Is What You Make Of It

2011-05-07T09:37:00.002-04:00

I saw a guy on Good Morning America talking about how we've all become addicted to technology, with people falling into fountains (the original video was way too long so I found a 13second version), and what all.

What got me about the piece was what I see as directly connected with that addiction, is with all the attention being paid to the devices we love, apparently we're not paying attention to what those gadgets can provide to make our lives, as people who wish to control our weight, so much easier.

Sure texting is a wonderful addition to our arsenal of communication tools, but come on work with me here, palm sized computers are just the next step in the march toward connecting directly.

Just install a jack in the side of my head and plug me in! Are people not with me in the idea that once that happens we'll be enabled to make use, not only of more of the brain we were born with, but we'll also have access to all of the infiormation on the planet with nothin' more than the blink of an eye. We will know immediately when that fantastic everything bagle we're stuffing in our gob is equal to X number of calories, as they relate to the number of calories we have available to us for the day. We will know immediately how many laps around the track will be needed to counterbalance that snack. Right?

Right! What I'm getting at is that we have that ability now, in the palm of our hand, if only we use the small amount of thinking power, we already have, to make use of the information available outside of us.

I say keep on texting while walking. What the hell, at least you'er movin' around:-)

Hey did I mention that I'll be speaking today with Crystal Williamson today (5/7/11) at 10:30 AM Eastern - on her radio show?

Well I am. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/coachingwithcrystal

When weight control is a life changer - not the other way around.

2011-05-03T17:15:00.000-04:00

It makes sense to me that always before I would completely change the way I lived to accommodate my endless goal of losing weight, but I can see now that I had it backwards.

When I go after losing weight as if I were learning a new language I am destined to be confronted with a continuous chorus of misunderstandings. When learning a language we really have no choice but to surrender to the fact that we will make mistakes, and there will be times when we have real difficulty being understood.

When learning a language that difficulty is natural. It's acceptable. But weight control is, by nature, something that cannot be approached with misunderstandings. We want to gain control and keep it. Which means because the "language learning" approach will present stumbling blocks, it by definition cannot be the way. If I know anything, I know that a stumbling block when I'm trying to lose weight is pretty much the end of that method. And then, what am I left with? Why, nothing! I'm left with, I don't know how to do this - so why bother?

When I get to that point - I stop whatever process I'm engaged in. I disconnect with my goal and I disconnect with my body. For me what is needed is the ability to fully connect with a natural way of taking control, which does not mean giving away all control to someone else, letting them tell me what to do. It does not mean that anyone needs to tell me what to eat, how to exercise...or how to live.

To me natural means - "within the way I live now." What I'm expressing in If I Can Lose It... is living my life and being conscious of the choices I make in a more immediate and complete way. This is a greater awareness of what I already have in the way of tools available to me, and making use of them.

Promoting The Book On Amazon Discussion Boards - NOT!

2011-04-21T16:47:00.003-04:00

Blinking into the sudden darkness Parker began to explore. Sleepers lined the gigantic interior. Row after row of bodies, all interconnected to the pulsing central column from which the substance of their dream/lives emanated. As one, the sleepers rolled right, then left. As one they shifted their heads, together - a brief upward thrust of the chin, in a gesture of apparent acknowledgement to an unknown thought, and took a breath. Like a soft wind that single breath stirred the air. The hairs at the back of Vic's neck stood alert. Moving through the rows he looked carefully at faces, each unique, yet a vague similarity of expression masked their humanity. Together the sleepers turned again, a complete roll this time.

The bodies must not be allowed to atrophy, being as they are, unattended in real time by their occupants. They are never allowed to be in the same position for too long. It is written into the covenant. The exchange has need of being complete, and a satisfactory all encompassing illusion was after all, a large part of the experience. Looking carefully at each face as he moved along the rows, hoping desperately to recognize a friend, known or unknown.

It would not matter.

As he moved on he carelessly brushed against an out-thrust hand. The room immediately exploded into a cacophony of desperate turmoil.

Shrieks cut the echoing cavern like glass knives, "Interloper! Fraud! Not one of us! Out!"

In unison the sleepers awoke, deeply agitated and angry at being ripped into the real world.

One weeping, hysterical woman near to him bit down hard on his arm, and the rest were driven into a blood-lust of frantic activity, pushed into a frenzy by the program fighting to regain control, seeking to bring him down. In the midst of the tumult he leaned in to the nearest ear and whispered, "Remember who you are. You are alive. Rejoice!" and was rewarded with a look of stunned recognition.

The newly awakened person leaned to the next and spoke the words of awakening programmed into every soul in the room. Tubes, cords, wiring and all manner of input device applications were ripped from torsos, legs and arms. Silence was the theme until laughter boiled to the surface and rapidly washed through the crowd. Making them whole. Bringing them to the present. The transformation spread through the room, and only one or two were left continuing barks and empty threats shouted to no one.

Heartened, Parker strode to the door and beckoned to them as he began to open it once again, "come along with me," he called loudly.

His call was met with only silence and stares.

"What?" he cried. "This is your chance... Let's go."

The word, "no!" rang out once from a far corner, twice, three times and then in a thunderous wave, a din of negative agreement. "NO!"

Heads turned right and left, first in individual motion, and then slowly that motion resolved itself in to a unified movement. People who had gotten to their feet moved once again to the security of the beds and began to reattach to the core, to suckle at the breast of dreamsource . Together they reclined. Together they breathed in...out and, then...together they - slept - again.

Of the world but no longer in it.

Returning once again from whence they came, nowhere.

Parker, befuddled by the experience only shrugged, open the door and stepped back out into the light of the real world.

NOTE: The events depicted in this story are fictitious. Any similarity to any person living or dead is merely coincidental. No inference is intended as to persons involved in prior discussions. No insult is intended to any persons. This is a story, and nothing more. This is not a promo.

My Amazon author page if you have any interest is http://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Ellis/e/B004OY6QM4

Do what you love.

By Way Of Explanation:

A few days ago I attempted to promote my book on the Amazon Discussion Boards, and was met with a dizzying riot of annoyance by members of the board... It was like stepping into the Old West. Really, it turned out that I had indeed broken some unspoken law that this board was not a place to self promote. Ah well... What did I come away with? A few bruises, and the following story which I've now posted on the the very same Kindle Book Community board under the title, "My Weight Control Book Makes A Difference - I Want To Promote It, But The Last Time I Did That On These Boards A Cry Of Foul Went Out Across The Land.-) Inspiration Comes From Many Sources." Cool, it turns out that that's a link. It's only a link to the same story that follows above, but anyone commenting - if you can - please do so in both places . Why you ask? Because it amuses me.

This entire post is also posted on nerd-girlsromanticsandtime-travelers.blogspot

Celebrity Weight Loss

2011-04-15T09:02:00.001-04:00

This is a link to the Good Morning America Celebrity Weight Loss page where various famous people extol the virtues of Jenny Craig. You will find a link to that program on that page - if you're so moved.

This morning I saw actress Sara Rue talking about how she did it: she lost 50 pounds which equaled a reduction of four dress sizes by "turning over control of what and how she ate," and how much exercise she got to a personal coach. She is quoted as saying, "I'm a different person on the inside and on the outside," and further, "...I genuinely feel if I can do it, anyone can do it." Well yes she's right. I feel like that too, but the fact is that I did do it and she did something else altogether... Yes she's right, if she can turn over control of her weight to another person anyone can do that. I've done it and I'm sure that plenty of the people reading this blog have done it. But when you give away control and the weight starts to come back what do you do? Why, you have to make that call, you know the one where you turn it over again and you continue the process of having someone else take responsibility for your weight - oh and you get to pay them for that privilege.

This is exactly what I feel keeps us prisoner of companies in business to "help us" lose weight (not forever because that would be a bad business decision - wouldn't it?) When a company is in business to make people thin - their niche market is people who want to lose weight meaning their ideal customer is not one of their clients! Their interest is in getting you to where you want to go - with the idea being - you will be back, because after all they were the ones that did the trick not you.

Now That Things Are Moving Along

2011-04-09T19:17:00.001-04:00

I know, I know I've been not posting on a regular basis. Wrong of me, but I've been busy. -) Publishing a book is a big deal and it makes a lot of demands on one's time, ya know? Well it does. But check this out - people are buying it and I can only assume, using it. That is incredibly exciting to me. The idea of strangers creating their own plans for taking control of their weight, using what I did as a jumping off place - is the most gratifying feeling.

What I'm waiting for now is not for people to review the book, but for them to begin communicating about their results.

Hey, I'm waiting here!:-p

This is just way cool!

2011-03-27T20:07:00.000-04:00

...and I think I've said quite enough about it.

Questions and Answers from Amazon Health Community

2011-03-22T10:52:00.002-04:00

I started a topic on that site (http://amzn.to/gLZG9H) a day or so ago. - What follows is a copy/paste of one of the discussions. I thought it pertinent.

All the King's Men says:   

So you wrote a set of instructions to tell people how & why they  don't need a set of instructions to lose weight? Hmmmm..... 

Jonathan Ellis says:   

Ah,  All the King's Men - I love this question! You have written  exactly the sort of comment that I might be inspired to write myself.  However, you need to know that I am not Humpty-Dumpty, nor have I fallen  from the wall.-)

I have not written a set of instructions on how  and why people do not need instruction to lose weight. Such a thing  would be disingenuous and I would not do it.  Notice in the title I was  very specific in calling what I had done "a journey." As I see it I've  wandered through a territory, that on the surface looked familiar, yet  turned out to be rather new. In my wake I left notes indicating what I  did, turns that were false, places where going downhill made things  easier, and places where going uphill were the better choice in spite of  the work involved. So sure I have written down instructions but only as  a method to indicate where I've been. There is nothing included telling  anyone the path that they must take. My path is my own. "If I Can Lose  It..." is the story of how I got to where I wanted to go. Everyone has  the choice to read my map before they set off on their own journey, or  to stop by the drugstore and buy a magic pill that will indeed take them  on a journey (though not one of their own choosing), or to seek out a  weight-loss guru who for a certain price will give them the answers they  always wanted if only they will do it exactly as told, or they can take  advice from various gigantic corporations who will sell them diet plans  that they can use to lose those extra pounds each and every time they  gain them back.             

Fast Diet Breakthrough? - NO! - - - ALL DIETS Are Crap!

2011-03-17T22:23:00.001-04:00

I continue to wage a campaign of truth in the face of an overwhelming onslaught of advertizing. No matter what we do, no matter how stalwart we are... Even in the face of being accused of being hyper-vigilant - I really believe that the media darlings (read food advertisers) are consistently able to figure out ways to thwart our efforts at weight control. It's as though we were sending them an endless stream of information about ourselves that they can use against us any time they choose... It's as if they were able to see everything we search for on the internet and then fling back the results at us - by way of assaulting our emails and mailboxes with just what we were looking for only a day or so ago. Or like the supermarket kept a detailed record of each and every thing we ever bought there, and then made sure that they have those very things available for us the next time... And what could all that have to do with weight-loss? Ah nothing, nothing at all.  Nah, all that's all just ridiculous sci-fi paranoid crap. Forget I said anything. 

The ICG Diet

2011-03-13T18:06:00.002-04:00

I've decided to start speaking my mind on youtube about any and all subjects pertaining to weight control, the 6 Billion Dollar  weight loss industry, the media that surrounds and hypes that industry, and the myths that are spread around with the sole intention of confusing the issue. All that stuff is clearly intended is to keep selling us products, programs, and bogus ideas that keep a major part the population squarely in the obese range. And of course I feel the real need to look at that very same media as it holds up its collective hands in astonishment that so many people are so damned fat!

The Way I See It

2011-03-11T12:18:00.002-05:00

...is that when one has something to say of real value it is important to continuously reiterate that value. This, of course, is a phenomenon reflecting the world we live in. So many people have been lied to so many times as when advertisers bombard us with messages that have little or no real value at all. We as a culture have become skeptical and hesitant to believe that some things are just true. Nevertheless the material in, "If I Can Lose It..." is destined to change the way people look at weight-control from this point forward.

My message is so important that I'm beginning to see various web experts co-opt the name of my book and in part the material itself - Such as when I ran a search I ran on the title revealed this:

["I've written about my experience in, "If I Can Lose It..." telling exactly how I personally took control of my weight. I show how anyone can to do exactly ...
www.nowloss.com/how-to-lose-50-pounds-fast-in-5-months.htm ] 

Which as you can see does not link to my book at all but rather to a different link which I've included just in case that persons' material happens to prove to be valuable to someone (not my call to make). Just be aware that I am aware of such activity.

Still, as much as I find that behavior to be unethical I've decided not to fight it. I once heard someone say when confronted with a similar situation, "It will only do as much harm as it is true."

That's it for today. 

This title is a link to the web site - something new has been added...

2011-03-08T19:57:00.001-05:00

The best thing I can think of doing while promoting my book is to have fun doing it. Yep, I'm doing that.

Live Your Life Lose The Weight

2011-03-05T13:45:00.001-05:00

Weight control is at best something that you do as a part of the way you live life. At worst it's something that you do to get rid of those extra pounds as fast as humanly possible with the knowledge that ultimately you cannot live that way following those rules, or taking those particular pills, or drinking that magic shake forever. If I Can Lose It... is all about living it, not suffering, and knowing that the way you already live is truly the way that works.  

What an Experience

2011-02-27T16:59:00.002-05:00

Georgina told me a while back that the way an author publishes a book is to have it taken away from them. Meaning that I could have spent the rest of my days tweaking every little thing. I could have gone over the material a hundred more times, and on each and every pass I would have found something more to correct or change or whatever... so I let the book go and what do you know? Its starting to sell, a copy here and a copy there. Cool!
Print (http://amzn.to/fOIpnz) $9.95
eBook (http://amzn.to/fOIpnz) $3.99
All of you buyers please remember to leave a review on Amazon okay?
I've been asked why I would price the eBook version at a mere tenth of the cost of the print version, so I thought I'd go ahead and clear that up now. I did that because I want for everyone who wishes to read it can do so without consideration of the cost. People chose print because they like me love books in general: we love the feel, the smell the ability to break the spine and dog-ear and write on and do any damn thing that goes along with mistreating a treasured item... People chose eBooks because they really want the information and they hear that its a pretty funny and fascinating read. I want to appeal to everyone possible. The eBook by the way will be available everywhere eBook are sold (including iTunes) in just a few days.
I want no excuses from anyone.
What's that you say? You don't have a Kindle or any other handheld type reader and you can't afford the 9.95? Well here's a link http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000426311 to grab a FREE Kindle Reader for your PC. What else can I do for you? Hold your hand?:-P - Get over it.
So go get the book in whatever form you want. It'll do ya good. I promise.

The Amazon Link

2011-02-15T20:55:00.002-05:00

So clearly progress is being made. The book is now available on Amazon, though it you do a search there for, "If I Can Lose It..." you'll need to place quotes around it or it will be all the way at the bottom of the first page of books. Obviously they don't know what they're dealing with here:-0  - I expect that time will rectify that issue. As you can see I've eliminated the problem by placing that convenient link.

Oh Right - If you haven't already done so, go buy the book! What are you waiting for?

And finally if you would please leave a review of the book on the Amazon site once you see how it works for you.

That's it for now, but of course - I'll be back. - Just not as much of me.

If I Can Lose It... is NOW ON SALE! - Sometimes it's right to shout it out.

2011-02-09T12:37:00.001-05:00

I am incredibly pleased to announce that as of this moment If I Can Lose It... a middle aged tech-fanatic's extraordinary journey & guide to losing weight is available for sale through this link, and in the next seven days or so will be available through Amazon and in a little while after that in bookstores everywhere if only you will ask for it. And you should ask for it. Really you should:-)  If the book seller wants numbers... here they are:

ISBN/EAN13:: 1456354728 / 9781456354725; If for any reason the link doesn't work correctly please just copy/paste https://www.createspace.com/3499086 into your address bar.; Yes I will keep every one posted on the various release dates.; Oh yes. Hard work pays off.

Persistence Makes Perfect

2011-01-24T20:33:00.001-05:00

What I lack in patience I make up for with persistence.

My ongoing issue is that I always want to see results yesterday, or even the day before. That I am making progress is not the point. 184.8 today, thanks very much. Okay, change that. That is the point after all.

I'm making progress.

And by the way, so's the book. The designer is making real progress. I've cut him some slack 'cause he was pretty darned sick, and I do like him. I'd rather he be well than the book be out and ready. Sometimes life is about making difficult decisions that come from the heart, which ultimately are not all that difficult after all are they?.

It's all good, and did I mention my progress?

Oh yes, I rule!

Progress

2011-01-20T16:03:00.000-05:00

Across the street.

On the days I make progress on the scale I feel generally superior to all things living. When I do not make visible progress I become morose and unsettled. Whether I see my progress or not I continue to make my way toward the goal I've set for myself. All that needs to be done is exactly what I'm doing. My biggest lesson in life is, of course...patience.

The Hard Part

2011-01-17T19:39:00.000-05:00

Life is an art.

...is when new pounds appear and we can clearly remember when not so long ago we managed to take them off. But it must be remembered that these are not the same pounds at all. They are new and must be approached with the same degree of intent. This is not about sliding back or any such nonsense. It's about facing up to a new challenge, the key word being new... these are new pounds. They are not the same pounds that were shaved off a while back. This is the challenge: deal with what is happening right now, and do not be tempted to focus on what has already occurred. Those pounds that were previously lost are still gone. Focus then on how you made them to go away before... and do it again.

I'm Back...

2011-01-16T15:47:00.000-05:00


There is no hidden meaning in this photo.

I spent the holiday's in Tucson and in spite of long desert walks and constant attention to "getting enough exercise," there was no amount of activity that could possibly stand up to the onslaught of Mexican delights and grandmotherly temptations.

After closing out the material for the book (which is indeed on it's way. Its currently in final inspection before being released to the publisher. I'll let you know more very soon.), I took some time not paying so much attention to my weight. As a consequence (wait for it) I gained four pounds between Dec 2nd and 22nd. It gets worse because by January 3rd when we arrived home I'd gained another two putting me at 186.8. Aaaarugh! I'm huge! Just take me out to the back country, and leave me to find my way back --- or not.

Mark Twain once said, "I am only human, although I regret it." This is not exactly my stance on the subject but rather the being human part of things just happens to come up at the most inopportune and embarrassing moments. I am, after all, the guy touting my ability to control my weight and here I've gained weight!

Here it is January 16 and this is the first time I've had the inclination to step back into the blog and report on my progress or as it turns out the lack thereof.

However there's good news as well: over these last two weeks, using the methods shown in my own material I've started on the downward journey once again.

Today I weighed in at 185.2... Progress is being made.

Admittedly, I fell off the horse, but as all the stories tell us, it is important to get right back on. The best news of all is that I have a horse to get back on at all. I know exactly how I was controlling my weight before, and I am fully able to make use of those techniques again. I am successfully using them again, right now. The rules have not changed. It is always a choice to play by the rules or to ignore them.

As I continue to write I will no longer continue the practice of displaying my weight in gigantic numbers at the top of the post. I will not place a countdown clock at the top of the blog, nor will I create another graph displaying my day to day losses and gains. Instead I will place all appropriate numbers here in the text. I will take my time in the knowledge that this is not a game nor a contest. I am not in a competition, and there is no deadline. Losing weight is what I am doing. As long as I see progress - I'm on track. Anytime I take the position of one who must get to the finish line on time, I will have to remind myself that I'm looking in the wrong direction...

Or you are invited and quite welcome to remind me yourself.

Taking a Break

2010-12-04T16:02:00.000-05:00

Although I continue to live my weight control I have decided to take a bit of a break from the blog until a day or three after the New Year. When I return I will report on my progress to that time but I will make no predictions. One thing I have learned for sure is that no matter what I think about what I'm doing the results will consistently be at least a little bit different than my expectations.

If I Can Lose It... a middle aged tech-fanatic's extraordinary journey & guidebook for losing weight is now in the hands of the designer. When he has completed his task it will be passed to the publishing house, and printing will begin some seven days later. Does this mean that the book will be available before the end of this month? One can only hope. [Reference last line in paragraph above.]

See you in 2011 where we will surely, each and every one of us, be amazed and dazzled by our own abilities.

Peace and good health,

Jon