It's Still On!!

Today's weigh in 217 (new low)

That's 4.5 pounds in the ocean 11 contest. I am still a half pound behind Jason but definitely in striking distance. Don't count this old boy out.

I am actually trying to up my calorie intake a little as I think my body needs the extra drive during my workouts. Of course its with good clean foods. I have added one serving of carbs and one serving more of protein and it kind of helped restart the weight loss I think. The body is a weird thing and I wish it was as easy as just eating way less and loose weight. I know people say calories in calories out but there are some internal human body regulators that seem to kick you in the nuts and hold on to all your fat if you get your cals too low. Not that I was running severely low but I was sticking around 1600 cals. I have up'd it to about 1800-2000 and it seems to be working. Lets face it, I like to eat and adding a few more eats is a good thing in my book :). So lesson to the story is less doesnt always mean less weight. FEED THE FIRE!

We are leaving for camping tomorrow morning early (after our workout of course). Really looking forward to getting out. Saturday is my off day for workouts and I will be home sunday ready to hit the workout again. I will see if I can bore you all with some pictures of camping this weekend when I get back.

Have I said I feel motivated lately ;).

Check-n In

Thought I would post up an update given a new week is starting. Weekend was good and I stuck to my plan. Had my bad night on Saturday night. Played some Texas Holdem with some friends and came in 3 out of 11. So I got my buy in back which was nice. Kept my alcohol consumption low (3 drinks) which was good given the opportunity to get smashed. Ended up staying at my parents until late last night so missed a workout (only 5 work out days this last week instead of my usual 6). However I am planning on doing a double today to make up for it. Planning a 5k when I first get home then a lifting session after 8 tonight (after the boys go to sleep).

On a professional front my boss the director of our department is leaving the company. This leaves our entire department kind of up in the air, so I am pretty concerned about that right now. Trying to not freak out to bad and see what the winds of change bring.

Weather is looking great here in the NW for the next week or so. Think we are going to try and get some camping in this coming up weekend. I am soooo ready to get out in the woods. Don't worry the meal plan will be set in stone no matter what day of the week it is. I'm still pushing and nothings gonna get in my way.

Haven't weighed in since my cheat meal morning and I was still sitting at 218... hoping to get me a new low this week.

Overweight

Just a quick thing that I realized today after reading the new gal Susie's blog. With my new low I am now officially just overweight, I have left Obese behind. Not sure if I totally agree with the whole BMI calculation but it feels better to see overweight instead of the obese I had seen in the past. According to the BMI calculator I should weigh somewhere between 137 and 183 to be considered normal. On a 6' man I think anything under 160 and you start looking like a Skeletor! Keep it real FAT.

note: got my first "have you lost weight?" today at work.... felt pretty good :)

New Low HO

Well if you got to be a HO might as well be to the New Low!

218

Thats 3.5 lbs lost Ocean 11 competitors.

I know this has been a long time in the making for me. I looked back many moons and it was all the way back in 2007, end of October to be exact. Pretty freaking lame.... But I tell you what it feels good to be back and burning hot in uncharted territory. I had to re-lose allot of lbs (15) but whatever that was then and this is now. I plan on being the FAT New Low HO for a long time to come. Thank you to all you FATers who have stuck by me gain or loose. I can not be stopped I will be a FAT success story.

I got back to back blogs too so check out yesterdays if you want to see some sweat covered Ripx man sauce :)

If Your Not Sweating Your Not Done!!!

Howdy FAT,

Jason thanks for the reminder once again. The Ripx180 vessel is true and strait. Still killing it when ever I get a chance. I had my usual bad meal on Saturday night were I partook in some applebees appetizers and a couple coors lights. I always enjoy it and it seems to reinvigorate me for the days to come. As I do every weekend I step on the scale the day after and wonder why I decide to have a cheat meal. I usual flux up a couple pounds mostly due to water weight as I know I am not eating enough to gain a couple pounds. As always those pounds are gone in a few days. But it makes a guy think about severally lightening or skipping the cheat all together (even though its planned).

My oldest son picked up a nasty flu yesterday and was puking in his bed last night aroud 3am. I decided to stay home today with him, my other son, and wife. I figured since I was home might as well do a double workout today. Just got done with number one and that's what brought my blog title about. The proof is in the pudding or the picture I suppose. I saw my old new low this weekend 219.5. That puts me 2 pounds down in the ocean 11 contest. Keep killing the workouts FAT ocean 11 contestants or eat my dust!!!! This big fat snowball is rolling and gaining momentum.

Health Juggernaut

Well its a start of another week. Diet and exercise are still very much at the fore front of my mind. The furnace is still burning hot and I want to go where Ripx has never gone before. I really feel like there isn't much that can stand in my way at this point. I feel like a health Juggernaut.

An observation — I really hate seeing the lull in the FAT blogs these days. It really saddens me and I hope this isn't the signs of this group circling the drain. I know some have reached there goals and that means less interaction once you hit maintenance stage. There are still many who have not reached their promise lands that are starting to drift off into the fat vortex. I say it is time for our founders "The Fatastic Four" to reenlist and once again show us how its done. I suppose Billy deserves a hall pass on this calling cause he has reached his goals and is continuing to show us how to maintain the weight he has lost. At this point I call on Rob, Kevin, and Beck to come back with a vengeance and show us all how old school FAT coalitioners get it done. I got to thank all the huge success stories for getting it done (Billy, Brian, Kristen, Jimbo and others). Thanks to the newer peeps for keeping things rolling (Jason, Geoff, Will, and Justin). I miss reading stuff from Melissa (hope you come off hiatus soon), Swanks, Rebecca, Jay, Gene, and Dave. I know I have been kind of absent myself for a while but lets all get back to what we set out to do. Being healthy and fit is so important and this group goes along way in supporting just that.

This last weekend was a huge test of my resolve. I did things that I have never done since being part of the fat coalition. Let me guess, you are all thinking that I blew my diet and didn't work out this weekend. I know you have every right to think that cause in the past that is what I have done. This last weekend was a "mans weekend" and I was a man with a plan. My friend and I were slated to head north to Seattle for golf, UFC night, poker etc. No kids, no wives, just a bunch of guys having fun, taking a break from everyday life for a couple days. Before this it was a pass for me to eat the world, drink gallons of beer, and just plain and simply be a sloth. But no, I had a plan. My meals were all packed in my little cooler. I got my workout in Friday morning before I left and ran 3 miles last night when I got home. My friends tried to break me at every meal or snack. They were all chowing down on pizza, lasagna, chips, cookies and tons of beer. There I sat with my 4 ozs of chicken and salad passing up the stuff they kept trying to offer me. Luckily Saturday night was my cheat meal so I was able to par take in some ribs and some beer etc. But like everything else that weekend my cheat meal was planned. It felt good to say no and be in control of what is important to me even if it meant standing out like a sore thumb. I jumped on the scale this morning and was happy to see no weight gained and I can just taste a new low as it gets closer.

My wonderful wife is really staying the course this time too which helps me eminsly. Evan's color seems to really be looking better. Looks like we might actually get some sun this coming weekend. My oldest son Ryan turns three this week which is a total trip to me.

Blog Slacker!!

I know, I know... I have been harassing a handful of you to post more often but then turn around and don't blog myself. I will try to do better (thanks for the reminder Jason).

I am still kicking some serious a$$ in the diet and exercise front. The weight is still coming off nicely and I am really hoping for a new low post here in the near future. I am going to have to dig way back in ripx180 blog sphere to find my last new low. I think I remember the number and the sad thing is it was way back in 2007 when it happened. I got no excuses or remorse at this point, it is what it is. I can tell you this though, it feels different this time. I can really feel the fire and desire to do this. Even more so then when I first joined the FAT coalition. I just feel like I have a direction, goals, and that I can actually do it. I almost enjoy the slight tinge of hunger in my gut because it reminds me that I am shredding fat of my big a$$. It just feels different this time.

I am playing with the idea of ditching the cheat meal once a week. Part of me wants to keep it but the other part of me thinks it counter productive. I just don't want to burn out and crash by not allowing things that I really like on rare occasion. Last weekend on my cheat night I decided to indulge in some booze (had been 3 weeks since I really had much). I drank a fair amount and had fun but felt like absolute S the next day. The older I get the less attractive booze is. I think in the future if I decide to partake in booze it will be in much less quantities. Drinking or not at social gatherings I always have a good time.

My wife is doing great also. I am so glad that she has decided to make a change for the better health wise too. Its so much easier having your best friend to talk to about nutrition, exercise, frustration, etc etc. She is also loosing some pounds and its starting to show. We seem to motivate one another so I am pretty pumped to see how far we can take this thing.

Evan my 2month old still has slightly elevated jaundice levels. So we had to have a blood test done on him. Poor kid had to have 3 shots and a blood test in a hour period. Luckily everything came back normal on his test and they said to just keep an eye on his coloring. They said that breast fed babies sometimes take longer to expel the jaundice. He is gaining weight and growing like crazy.

I bought a little 1971 Yamaha AT1-125 enduro to go next to my dirt bike in the garage. Its been fun putting around the neighborhood on it and tinkering with the engine etc. Nice to have a little bike that is street legal again.

So there you have it FAT, thats whats been going on in Rips world.