Clearly, I have trouble maintaining a blog, but I think I need to make some updates to get myself back on track with some stuff.  So let's just do a catch-up post from the August update so that I can start moving forward again.  These updates will be in no particular order either (just so you know.)

1. St. Baldrick's 2011 - This has become something that I have started looking forward to every year.  It is a great cause (raising money for pediatric cancer research) and generally a pretty fun day.  I was a little nervous this year that it wouldn't be as enjoyable because I was going to be emceeing at a different location than normal.  Instead of being at the Hibernian like year's past, I was at Napper Tandy's.  I have to say, all of my worrying for was for naught.  I, personally, raised over $500 and got a spiffy haircut in the process.  I was going to just post a straight picture of bald me, but I thought I would post it along with a picture from last years event.  I think it shows some of the weight I have lost.  Anyway, you can check it out below. (We'll talk more about weight loss in a bit.)

2. Work - Things seem to be going well.  I actually changed jobs back in August and have really loved the move that I made.  It is doing more web based work and I have been happy to get back to that.  The main thing going on in this area right now is that I have an interview next week for a manager position. I am definitely interested in the role, but I must admit that I am starting to question if I am truly qualified for it.  Actually, scratch that, I know I am qualified for it, what I am concerned about is whether I am "corporate" enough for the role. I think I would be a great people manager, however, I have never been one to spend a lot of energy worrying about learning a lot of the business jargon that seems to be used a lot these days.  "Veritcals", "routes", and other tearms that I understand, but worry about my ability to competently discuss with someone that DOES use these terms a lot. Maybe I am just to normal or something.  Either way, I will find out more next week when I have the interview. I will update then.

3. Weight Loss -  And here it is. My weightloss journey was pretty much the impetus for starting this blog and updating it (or at least THINKING about updating it) was something that helped me process the things that I was dealing with on a daily basis. In the last six months there have been ups and downs with the dieting and I feel like I need to start talking things out again to get myself back on track.

As of today, I am down 110 lbs. from my highest weight, however, I am up about 20 lbs. from my lowest.  So as you can guess, things have been sort of "not good" on with the diet as of late.  Actually, things were good up until about Thanksgiving.  I feel like that is where things took a turn.  Not to make excuses (but that is what I am going to do) but there were so many things that conspired against me from then to now.  Christmas, Thanksgiving, a trip to Las Vegas, my dad being in the hospital and any number of other things that affected my desire to stay on my eating plan.  At one point, I was down to 289.8 lbs.  Needless to say, that was crazy awesome and to start putting weight back on is bad times.  I know what the problem is, too: fast food.  For some reason, I have started eating out again for almost every meal and that has become my downfall.  Why exactly I have done this is beyond me outside of convenience and laziness.  Who am I kidding, it is totally laziness.  And I need to stop it now.  I guess I am hoping that this blog will help me get back into the swing of things because it is forcing me to "say things out loud" and that usually works for me.  I feel like I have taken some positive steps.  I started working with a really great trainer a couple of weeks ago and that is going really well.  I can actually tell that I am getting a little stronger.  I feel like that is going to be a good working relationship for me and will be something that continues to move me in a good direction.

So here is my plan:

• Continue working with my trainer once a week to learn how to properly use the gym.
• Actually GO to the gym other times during the week. I plan to start this on Thursday of this week.
• Start cooking all of my meals again (or at the very least the vast majority of my meals.) Really, to be even more specific, NO MORE FAST FOOD!!
• Start running again. The time changes next weekend which means it will be lighter longer and it is warming up a little so it won't be so miserable to be out later in the evening, which is when I am able to go to the track.

The cool thing about all of this is that I know I can do this because I have totally done it already for the last year.  I will lose the weight that I have put back on and will continue on towards my ultimate goal. I am going to make a concerted effort to update this blog at least once a week.  In fact, I just set myself a calendar reminder for myself. Let's hope I stick to it.

It seems like a million years ago that I was doing CHR (Top 40) radio.  I have to admit though, I really did enjoy it back in the day.  It was exciting and new and fun and, well, just a really kick ass way to spend some time.

So anyway, I was going through some unlabeled CDs last night and I stumbled on this jem.  It is an aircheck of me on G105 from November 2003.  I sound totally different here than I do on 96 Rock.  (At least I hope I do!)  And yes, I realize how pukey (radio lingo!) I sound.  Either way, was fun to listen to.  Please enjoy and criticize all you want. 

I actually like the way these glasses look on me.

This is what happens when someone that doesn't cook very much combines a need to eat at home with too many episodes of Iron Chef. Stupid hot oven.

I read an article today warning people about going to Tijuana for bariatric surgery. The gist of the article was that "you get what you pay for" and "American doctors are better" and "don't be stupid and go to Mexico" and several other extremist/ill-informed comments. It was the type of article that if read by someone on the fence about having surgery could be the thing that turns them off. This really bummed me out because seven weeks I went to Mexico and had bariatric surgery and it has been the absolute best decision I have ever made.

Seven weeks ago, I weighed 394 lbs, wore size 56 pants, 4x/5x shirts, sweated almost constantly unless I was perfectly still, ate an obscene amount of food, never exercised and generally felt like crap all the time.

Seven weeks ago, I got on a plane and flew over 3000 miles to another country to let a surgeon cut into me with absolutely no fear whatsoever.

Seven weeks ago, I was privileged to be cared for by a staff that was courteous, friendly, and as thorough as any medical staff I have EVER dealt with in the United States.

Seven weeks ago, I changed my life.

So where am I seven weeks later? As of this morning, I weighed 338.8 lbs, a loss of 55.2 lbs! I am down to a 48 pants size and 3x shirts. I exercise almost every day and have even started running(!). I eat probably half a cup of food for each meal and am getting probably less than a sixth of the calories I used to eat (and it is all fresh, home cooked food, no take out/fast food.) I feel better than I have in YEARS.

And it is all going to keep improving. That is the crazy thing. As good as I feel right now, I know that I will feel even better in seven more weeks. I will get to my goal and I will live a life that I have never actually known. It's intoxicating to even consider.

I wish that I could talk to the person that reads that article and decides against going ahead with Lap Band or something else and tell them not to believe everything they read. Research your doctor regardless of where they are because that good reputation is something that CAN exist across the border. It is possible to go to Tijuana and come away changed for the better.

I am living proof.