More than half way to my 1st goal (364.0 pounds)

When I started the "New Directions" weight loss program at Elkhart General Hospital, they asked me what my goal weight was.  Many of you know me well enough to know that it just ain't that easy for me, so I gave them 3 weight loss goals and they were:

1.  To get down to 300 pounds (135 pound loss)
2.  To get down to 220 pounds. At this weight my Body Mass Index would say that I am overweight but not obese. (215 pound loss)
3.  To get down to 200 pounds.  At this weight, my BMI would say that I am overweight, but I think I would be OK with that... In my mind, this is my ideal weight.

Well, after a short 13 weeks in the program, I praise the Lord that I am more than half way to my 1st goal.  This week I lost 6 pounds and was very excited about the loss.

I want to take a moment to put in a quick plug for three things for those who struggle with weight loss (or even for those who have not yet chosen to struggle against it.)

First, I want to recognize the program I am a part of.  The New Directions Weight loss program (www.egh.org/.../new_direction_weight_management/) based at Elkhart General Hospital has been great.  All of the nurses have been helpful, friendly and encouraging.  I am very pleased with this program. 

BodyMedia (I turned it on my arm
so you could see it better)

The second thing I want to give props to it an electronic device that I wear on my arm on my triceps called BodyMedia (http://www.bodymedia.com/).  This nifty little device has been an immense help to me!  BodyMedia via this arm band monitors the amount of calories I burn, the number of hours I sleep and how efficient that sleep is, it monitors how active I am, it has a built in pedometer to count how many steps I take each day, notifies my probation officer when I leave the house and many other things.  Through the BodyMedia website, I journal all of my foods and it tells me how many calories I am am in a surplus/deficit each day.  Since we know that to burn a pound of fat, you need to have a 3,500 calorie deficit all of this data that BodyMedia compiles has been super helpful.  It is a little costly (approx $200 and $7 per month for the web service) but it has been worth every penny to me. 

Last, but certainly not least I want to express heart felt and loving gratitude towards my beautiful wife.  Ever since I started this program, Ruth has stood beside me.  Ruth not only encourages me, but she leads by example.  Ruth eats the same meals I do, does not cheat on the diet, wears the BodyMedia,  prepares healthy tasty meals and so many more things.  Ruth has also seen the fruits of her labors with this diet; she has lost 17 pounds since the beginning of the diet!  I cannot tell you how very thankful to the Lord God I am for my wonderful wife.