Sunday, September 27, 2009

How Do You Like Them Pickles?

Weekly weigh-in: 221.2
Loss: -2.7
Total loss: 70.3 lbs.
Emotion: Improved & Improving

After last Sunday’s wah-wah-fest, it’s nice to be able to report some good news on the weight-loss front. That’s right: sayonara seventy pounds. See ya... wouldn’t wanta be ya.

As astute readers have pointed out of late, my reward for hitting the 70-lb. mark was pickles, so I did start the day with a ceremonial Vlasic on my plate, pulled from a jar purchased especially for this occasion a few weeks ago. It tasted like dill and vinegar and victory.

And the pinched nerve in my back is on the mend, thanks to Dr. Ly and his magic Chinese torture needles. Anita’s kind of ticked at me because I’m about to run out to go play basketball in the new league I joined. She doesn’t get it. Yes, I run the risk of aggravating my injury and doing more damage to myself, but she hasn’t stopped to consider that if I don’t play, I’ll lose the respect of some middle-aged men I’ve never met before. Women!

I credit this week’s loss to the fact that I was able to get back into the gym. As I was merrily biking along (I switched back to all cardio until I really get all the way healed), a woman on the piece of equipment next to me commented that I seemed pretty damned happy for someone who was making so many grunts/groans and sweating so profusely. Usually I’d have delivered a snappy comeback, but I just told her that I wasn’t taking this opportunity to exercise for granted.

Taking care of our bodies is a responsibility, to be sure, but it’s also a privilege. Not everyone enjoys the opportunity to use their bodies for the betterment and enrichment of their own lives. And last week made it abundantly clear to me that it’s difficult to make this journey without the exercise part of the equation.

So if you’re able to, I encourage you to get your sweat on today, tomorrow… every day, in some form or fashion. Not everyone has that chance, you know, and you may not always have the ability to do so yourself. You just never know. Embrace the good feeling that a hearty workout delivers and know in your heart that you’re doing something positive for your body and yourself. I can offer you no better advice.

But I can offer you a pickle… one’s plenty for me, thanks.

51 comments:

  1. yeah for the loss!!!

    and i had the same very thought this past week while at the gym, that i was grateful i was able to do some of the exercises i was doing!

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  2. Congratulations on your milestone! Now where does one go about finding a hobo?

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  3. Congrats on....eating a pickle! :) Oh and the loss too! :)

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  4. Congratulations, Jack! And excellent, very wise advice indeed. Peace.

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  5. You da man! Hope that you have a great week!

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  6. nice loss and great milestone, jack... way to get back to the gym

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  7. Congrats on the loss, nice pickle and great message!

    Have fun gettin' your ball on!

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  8. As someone who belongs to the kosher pickle tribe, Vlasic pickles are to pickles as laminate is to real wood flooring. But if you like them, good for you!

    As someone who also belongs to the disability tribe, all I can say is: never take your ability to exercise for granted. I myself am relatively limited in what I can do to get moving without hurting myself, so I urge you (and I'm extremely serious when I say this) to make sure you are fully healed before going back to your regular exercise. The opinion of the goofballs you play basketball with is truly not as valuable as your back. I know--I've had three ruptured discs. You don't want to go there.

    Be well, Jack. And when you lose 80 pounds, give the hobo a coffee in addition to the high five.

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  9. Loving your ode to sweat and pickles.

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  10. Well done Jack! Congrats on the loss! I have to be honest and say that I havent exactly been getting "my sweat on" lately. But after reading your post, you REconfirmed the fact that I have known all along....and that is that I have to use my body in the best way possible now, because I may not be able to later on. And that thought scares me!
    Kick Ass!!! 70 pounds is amazing!

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  11. 70.3 lbs ... awesome loss!

    got off my fat butt yesterday and finally went for a nice long walk outside ... it felt so good
    and you're right ... it's easy to take our mobility for granted and it's something we should be grateful for daily.

    glad to hear your back is on the mend.

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  12. I totally agree, exercise is the key to this whole get healthy, lose weight formula.

    Glad you're feeling better. I agree with Anita, your should take it easy. Basketball doesn't sound like a good idea, but have fun.

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  13. Hooray for gherkins! And for making over 70lbs down. Well done for getting to the gym and for the basketball game, despite the trapped nerve. Hope it continues to improve.

    And I agree, we are very lucky to have enough leisure time, finances and health in order to enjoy using our bodies for fun - appreciate it and make the most of it!

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  14. Super fantastic job Jack...70+ pounds is just awesome...and I'm glad you've attained it through a lifestyle change and not some fad diet. Been praying all week that your back would heal up soon....glad you're on the mend. My Dad has MS and is in a wheelchair, so I for one am appreciating my ability to even walk...and especially to walk as much as I want to get my health in order. Now I'm going to start praying for Dip. I see her time is drawing nigh. :(

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  15. There are a lot of people out there that are not able to workout..it's so true that we should be happy that we "get to" workout today...take advantage of it ;)

    Congrats on the weightloss this week!

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  16. Congrats on reaching your 70 lb goal and on getting back to the exercise. Ewww on the pickles though that definitely won't be on my list of rewards lol.

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  17. That's great news! Congrats!

    Since you're already full of pickles, have a cucumber on me!

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  18. Thank you Jack. No, really, thank you.

    Congrats on the 70+ loss !! YOU are doing this!!

    xo

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  19. Slapping you some virtual hi-fives! For both your weight loss progress & for talking up exercise.

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  20. Such a great post & a very important message to enjoy with your pickle! CONGRATS!!!!!!

    I am going to add to one of my posts this week about a lady I see "walking" when I am out on my Sunday jog. She is at least in her 70's, she has obviously had a stroke yet there she is with her cane & hubby, walking along and he is NOT helping her! I hear people say they can't do this because they are too heavy or too something yet here is a lady with limited use of one side out walking. Quite an inspiration!

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  21. You have obviously never been pregnant, because one pickle wouldn't be plenty! Congrats! Will we ever get to see a picture? My daughter doesn't believe you exist!?! I know you're the real deal!

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  22. Grats on the loss - I'll take a pickle!

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  23. I didn't know that the League of Extraordinarily Fat Gentlemen had a basketball team. Is it true, fat men can't jump? LOL

    Have fun, but take care of that back...they only issue one of them, ya know.

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  24. Yay for you :)
    So happy for you and thanks for the reminder to do something good for the body everyday.

    Enz

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  25. I love being all soaking wet at the end of a good workout. I love my dirty shirt I use to wipe my face, I love my dripping bandanna and totally soaked hair, I love my pink cheeks and rubbery legs. It's all good, good stuff!

    Hooray for you AND your pickle!

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  26. I'm happy you got to enjoy a little pickle love. Heh! I just said pickle love.

    Dan and I tore into a jar of pickles last night as well. I think it's just pickle season.

    Oh, and congrats on your loss! :)

    ~Jenn (Ex Hot Girl)

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  27. Well done on the loss! You are right - it is a privilege to exercise... I love that instead of hanging around in my pajamas for hours after waking up, these days I jump right into my workout clothes. And then I WORK OUT. It feels so good!

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  28. Wow...

    You've lost the equivalent of

    - the gear firemen wear
    - the world's biggest atlas
    - the maximum amount your luggage can weigh when you fly
    - a Soviet solid bronze ship bell
    - a drum set

    Congrats :)

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  29. The ironic thing is that I've also lost my Soviet solid bronze ship bell. I can't find that thing anywhere!

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  30. So right, it is an absolute privilege to be able to exercise. Sometimes it takes having that privilege taken away to really understand...

    And you better believe I will be out there exercising my own privilege today!

    As for the 70, dang, you rock Jack! Just slow it down a little, will you, I hate when men weigh somewhere in the vicinity of my weight!

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  31. YAY FOR 70 LBS!!!!! You grunt and groan all you want big boy, you deserve it.

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  32. Congrats on the loss! Yay for pickles!

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  33. Have you started scouting out a hobo yet or are you just going to keep it random?

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  34. GREAT JOB!!! BTW, i made my site private if you want an invite. I might be a little more naughty though because of the freedom of privacy so be warned. lol

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  35. That is so freaking awesome!!!!!! Would you ever consider posting your before and after (or during) pics? I bet they are way inspiring.

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  36. Wooohooo- I knew you'd get those pickles- solid loss this week!

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  37. Congrats on losin' the 70. Exercise is the best medicine/best antidepressant created! You're right about not taking it for granted.

    Loved your crazy greeting card post - you have a gift. You should market these. Seriously!

    Oh, and I am trained in acupuncture. Those needles are teeny-tiny. Quit whining - they work!

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  38. Jack,
    I am becoming concerned with your literalism. (way too close to liberalism lol) no anyway. Um, does your dog sense anything yet? They are very sensitive creatures (well, not my dog...who just farts and eats food off the counter) I smell impending doom for the canine member of the sh*t family. Good job.

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  39. Thank you so much Jack. It is indeed an amazing opportunity. So much so, that it feels otherworldly and I really am unsure what to do with it. (insert confused, concerned, yet happy and slightly dumb look here.)

    ~Jenn (Ex Hot Girl)

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  40. WOW...what was the wifey thinking REALLY? Good job on the cardio and GREAT advice...Sure could use a pickle...
    jack...where you been? I miss you...Oh yeah wait a minute, its me HUH? well i always read...and you better never quit!!!
    Love,
    Irene

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  41. Great job on this week's loss. I always look forward to reading your progress every Sunday. I always scratch my head and wonder how you do it, but the equation is simple, eat less + move more = get thin!

    Keep it up the great work & keep down the pounds!

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  42. You ROCK. :-) I bet that was the best tasting pickle EVAH!

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  43. i can never stop at one pickle.. but i don't think i could eat one for breakfast. mmm no.

    CONGRATS ON THE LOSS!!!!!!!!

    and thanks for the motivation.. i will get my sweat on later today. :)

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  44. 70 pounds!!!! You rocketh.

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  45. I love pickles! I will get my sweat on today for sure.

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  46. Congrats on the loss. Glad your back is getting better.

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  47. I am only just catching up with the blogs.Congratulations on reaching Pickles!

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