Kevin W. McCarthy

The Professor of On-Purpose

Health & Fitness

My On-Purpose Pants!

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One of the oddities about an affluent society is our clothes closet.  Many of us who have gained a few pounds over the years have two and, sometimes, three sets of clothes.  I'm not talking seasonal clothing like winter and summer clothes.  No I'm talking normal, fat, and even fatter.  By the time most of us reach "even fatter," we've lost hope and finally given away the normal clothes settling for the fat and even fatter selection. 

Since I've been in the process of reprogramming my eating through the Take Shape For Life system, I've dropped over thirty pounds since April 3.  Yep, 30 pounds in 2 months.  My "even fatter" clothes began drooping on me within a couple of weeks.  After about a month, I was digging around into the "fat" set of clothes.  Now they're bagging. 

Over the weekend I bought two pair of men's pants and a pair of jeans – size 36!  My belts no longer fit either.  I've shrunk out of my 40s and 38s.  I was looking like a homeless guy with baggy pants.  Honestly, I can't remember wearing 36s.  There were none in my closet.  When I played a lot of competitive tennis – some 18 years ago – I was a size 34 tennis short.  So to wear a 36 is like rediscovering my youth.  What a joy for the baby boomer! 

I am still in my fat burning state.  Who knows, could 34s actually be in my life again?  Why not?  Honestly, the image of size 34 was so hopelessly erased from my self-perception that it is still hard for me to imagine it.  And I'm a guy with vision!  Yet I know it is not only possible, it is probable if I simply decide to commit to it.  My goal weight is 190.  At that weight the 36s will probably fit just fine.  Then again size 34 might be just the thing.

There isn't a day that goes by that someone doesn't ask me about my weight loss and tell me how good I look.  Never in my life have I had so many kind words spoken to me about my appearance.  Family, friends, and clients have asked for my help so I decided to get smarter about TSFL so I can better advise them rightly.  Plus, I love to learn.  I am such a fan of Take Shape For Life that I accepted the invitation by Dr. Andersen to be trained as a Health Coach.  I'll be trained by the best so I can help people be on-purpose with their health.  My wife, Judith, is really the person most interested in actually doing the day-to-coaching with coaching.  Together, we'll be learning.  I'm a zealot about this life changing program that has helped move me toward optimal health and away from disease.  I cannot NOT share it with you.

If you've done a want list and tournament on your Physical/Health Life Account and had "lose weight" show up as your top want, then TSFL may be the program just for you.  Do you have an on-purpose plan to trim down and keep off the weight?  Great!  If not, then let's connect… on-purpose.  Wouldn't you like to own a pair of on-purpose pants as well?

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin

30 pound weight loss – 7 Weeks!

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Tsfl_may_23_2008Unbelievable!  I am somewhat stunned.  After years of attempting to eat right, exercise, and drink more water… and failing to lose much beyond the initial five or ten pounds, I am actually down 30 pounds since April 4th.  That’s seven short weeks ago. 

Here is my weigh in photo taken just about 6;45 am this morning.  You may recall my blog post on April 4th with my scale reading 230!  My goal weight remains 40 pounds of weight loss or to reach 190 pounds.  Nevertheless, to break the 200 mark is a major milestone for me.  I can’t remember the last time I weighed under 200.  Certainly, when I was playing lots of competitive tennis at age 35 – some 18 years ago – I was in much better shape.  Playing in the Men’s 35 Nationals Clay Courts I hurt my knee and laid off for 13 years until a modest three-year return to courts.  I haven’t play for nearly two years now.  I would have to guess my weight has been above 200 since 1990.  I just can’t believe I let it slide like this for so long.

The picture that’s the header of my blog shows me in late October, 2007.  I probably weighed 235 at the time of the photo shoot.  Now, in addition to new clothes, I’ll soon need new photos taken for my web site and speaker kit.  This is what one calls a good problem. 

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Amazing!

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OK, so I decided at the beginning of April to start the TSFL program to learn how to eat as an adult.  Facts are my diet really hasn't changed that much since I was a teenager.  I love my pizza and ice cream.  How many more areas of my life am also making decisions like when I was a teen?  Hmmm!  Topic for another day.

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Since April 3, I've lost 25 pounds.  That's the great news.  The bad news is this morning I'm to introduce Dr. Sandy Shugart, the President of Valencia Community College, as the Campaign Walk Chair for the Light The Night Event with the CFL Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  I'm on the board and Sandy I are friends.  Normally, it's a delightful honor to introduce a friend and dynamic leader like Sandy. 

Except for one thing…

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Trimming Down

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Week 5 on Take Shape For Life has been a challenging one.  Still, I am down to 207 – two pounds for the week – twenty-three pounds in five weeks.

My feeding schedule has been all out of whack this week so I've ended up skipping some MediFast/TSFL meals – a no-no that threatens my "fat burning" stage.  Dinner at the Outback last night with some friends visiting from out of town and Mother's Day out to dinner this Sunday will add to the challenge.  I'm learning to manage my restaurant eating to conform to the  Lean and Green approach. 

I found two pair of old pants in my closet that fit me – baggy.  I'm holding off going clothes shopping until I get to my goal of 190.  Then again, I don't want to look like a hobo in someone else's oversized pants… but there is a certain satisfaction in gathering my size 38 pants at the waist when I used to fill the size 40s. 

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Weigh Down

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Amazing!  Today I crossed the halfway point in my stated weight loss goal.  I am actually down 21 pounds in 4 weeks.  I’m stunned and amazed, but not really now that I understand the TSFL system.  Pardon me for gushing over with excitement.  This TSFL is a system with high predictability.  I’ve been sticking very close to my "fueling schedule" and exercising everyday so I can reach my goal sooner rather than later.  Weight loss is merely the beginning – Phase 1, as TSFL calls it.  Phase 2 – BeSlim is just getting healthier – to optimal health.  Here is a link to my health coaches’ web site: Lori and Wayne Andersen to read more about the program. 

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I’ve got to lose weight… continued.

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So here I am four weeks into my Take Shape for Life program and I am down twenty pounds.  It is amazing.  I’m not snoring at night so I’m sleeping better as is my wife!  My pants and belts are hanging on me as I’m at least one size down.  My energy is better.  My workouts are better and my endurance is better.

I do long for some sugary stuff from time to time.  Fortunately, the TSFL foods have enough good tasting chocolate that I can typically satisfy that urge at my next feeding. 

I did have a piece of pizza the other day.  Guess what?  My weight stopped falling off because I arrested the "fat burning mode" I was in and had to re-prime the pump.  Still, 20 pounds in 4 weeks is pretty amazing. 

I feel like myself again.

I’ve stopped snoring… apparently!

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For years now, my wife has slept with earplugs because my snoring awakens her.  Since my son has been away at school the past two years, she has been actually going into his bedroom many nights to escape the snore machine. 

Judith left town shortly after I started the Take Shape for Life program and just returned on Wednesday, April 23.  Since she’s been back, I’ve found her sound asleep next to me every morning.  That hasn’t happened in months.  I asked her why.  She said she hasn’t been waking up in the middle of the night to my snores galore.

I’m wondering if the fact that I’m down 17 pounds since starting TSFL has anything to do with it.  You bet!  Now that I think about it, I’m resting more soundly, awakening more alert, and needing less sleep.  I never expected this outcome from dropping a few pounds. 

I’m very thankful.  Thankful for…
    the loss of weight
    the return of my sound sleeping
    the return of Judith’s sound sleep
    the increase in energy
    the gain of some waking time
    the healthier lifestyle

Be On-Purpose!

Kevin