Day 77 - Keeping the dream alive - Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween

Week 11 and I am looking to review some significant health matters for me. Having suffered from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSP) for around 4 years, I have arranged for a re-test to see if my weight loss has affected my condition. So I have not been using my CPAP device since Monday and have to pick up my testing device this Friday and will get the result the following Monday. I am not sure how I feel right now as some of the symptoms are similar to those from being on the LL program. Well next week will tell.

Also, I am taking a visit to the doc next Tuesday to see if my hypertension has altered. I have been monitoring this for a while now and I think it is lower but can I consider stopping the tablets? Again next week will tell.

So all in all, the next week will be interesting.

However, this has not stopped me getting on with the plan. After weight in today, I have lost a further 4.9 lb taking my weight to under 14 stone for the first time in over 15 years! Yippppeee.

This is a lovely song from a Scandinavian band who sound on this track a lot like the Beatles. A song about optimism and positive thoughts. Great stuff and just what I need to take on board for the next week. Fingers crossed.

Song: Keeping the dream alive

Artist: Freiheit

Album: Fantasy

Year: 1988

Tonight the rain is falling

Full of memories of people and places

And while the past is calling

In my fantasy I remember their faces

The hopes we had were much too high

Way out of reach but we had to try

The game will never be over

Because we're keeping the dream alive

I hear myself recalling

Things you said to me

The night it all started

And still the rain is falling

Makes me feel the way I felt when we parted

The hopes we had were much too high

Way out of reach but we have to try

No need to hide no need to run

'Cause all the answers come one by one

The game will never be over

Because we're keeping the dream alive

Day 70 - I didn't know what love is

After a hell of a week, the weigh in. I don't feel as if anything has changed, but this is maybe in my mind rather then in reality. This was proven to be the case as I found at weigh in I had lost a further 4 lb, taking my total weight loss to over 60 lbs! Fantastic.

And so to a song very dear to my heart as I relate to it closely from a time when I was in the middle of a family crisis due to illness and I found out what was important in life. After a tough week both with the plan and with some issues at home, this song reminds me of exactly what is important. My family, love and all that. Simply beautiful......

Title: The Hurt

Artist: Cat Stevens

Album: Foreigner

Year: 1973

Young son, don't let me down, young son

I'm trusting you to keep on, never turn away now

Hold on, never let go, now hold on

Turn your heart to the bright sun

Love will come your way

Cos 'till you make that final show

You'll never know what love you've been missing

Missing

You say you want to seek the truth but you work alone

No one to help you and nobody to push you on

So you sit at home drinking your wine, television on

You wait for a miracle, cos you say one day one'll come along

But wishful thinking, boy, any minute now you might be gone

I'd like to help you brother but that would be wrong

Until I got hurt, I was looking, I was on my way

Until I got hurt, until I got hurt, darling I didn't know which way

Until I got hurt, 'till I got hurt, why didn't I

I didn't think of this until I got hurt

'Till I got hurt, baby, I didn't know what love is

Day 63 - just a Day in the Life

After a hard week I 'needed' a boost and therefore my weigh in this time was key for me. I have been away in Barcelona on a business trip (pictures in my other blog - link below) with some colleagues who enjoyed the food and drink in fine places. I joined in the company but abstained from the fun. This was really difficult in such a relaxed atmosphere.

The only light relief I was able to get (and no calories) was a visit to the local Casino attached to the hotel. In there I won €400 playing blackjack, so someone up there was looking after me and wanting me to have some fun!

So to the weigh in. Amazing, I have loss a further 6.2 pound in the week, making my total weight loss to over 4 stone. I am, of course, overjoyed.

A song about life and a great song too. No more, no less. Enjoy life, I am.

Title: A day in the Life
Artist: The Beatles
Album: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Year: 1967

I read the news today oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
And though the news was rather sad
Well I just had to laugh
I saw the photograph
He blew his mind out in a car
He didn't notice that the lights had changed
A crowd of people stood and stared
They'd seen his face before
Nobody was really sure
If he was from the House of Lords
I saw a film today oh boy
The English Army had just won the war
A crowd of people turned away
But I just had to look
Having read the book
I'd love to turn you on

Woke up, fell out of bed
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup
And looking up I noticed I was late
Found my coat and grabbed my hat
Made the bus in seconds flat
Found my way upstairs and had a smoke
And somebody spoke and I went into a dream

Day 55 - 2 months - If that's what it takes

Except for 1 day, the end of month 2, week 8 but day 55. Finally over the last couple of weeks I have realised the ability to change is in my hands and what this means for me and my life is becoming very clear to me. This is not a diet, it NEVER has been. This is about a change in my life and the consequences are fundamental, important and worthwhile. I feel refreshed and renewed that I can and will achieve my goal.

These thoughts are spreading to all parts of my life, not just to my own physique. I am looking to make positive and life changing decisions that will benefit my wife, family and me.

This week's weight loss has been a modest 3.3lb, but this still very good. Firstly, this takes my total weight loss ver 50 pounds so far and puts my net weight to under 15 stone for the first time on over 15 years! Indeed a major milestone and a great boost to my confidence.

An apt piece of music from my favourite Beatle. A time of realisation has dawned on me and this sums it up well.


Song: If that what it takes
Artist : George Harrison
Album: Cloud nine
Year: 1987

And now it begins to shine
And you found the eyes to see
Each little drop at dawn of ev'ry day

Your smile, it comes back to me
And whatever you may say
Don't let it stop, never fade away

As we got to get out in this world together, oh
Doesn't really matter if we start to make some changes, oh

If that's what it takes (that's what it takes)
Then I've got to be strong (that's what it takes)
Don't want to be wrong
If that's what it takes

Day 53 - Lazy Sunday Afternoon (at the gym)

Well induction time at the gym and lil' old me gets down to some sporting activity. First time for a long time.

And what thoughts sprung to mind when I was taken through the various 'devices' in the gym? Was it how I remembered how they all worked, it all came flooding back? NO, it was the pain each and every one of the, caused me years ago...aye why.

So I got myself set up on a cardio-vascular program, after I told the assessor I wasn't looking to become the next Mr. Universe. (was that a little smirk I saw on his face?). So mainly running, cycling and 'stepping' (oh they hurt) with a bit of rowing thrown in for good measure. I did manage to get a good sweat up and left thinking what my legs will be like tomorrow, but feeling good about myself all round.

So this song just seemed so apt.....

Song: Lazy Sunday afternoon
Artist: Small Faces
Album: Ogdens nut gone flake
Year: 1968

Wouldn't it be nice to get on wiv me neighbours
But they make it very clear they've got no room for ravers
They stop me from groovin', they bang on me wall
They doin' me crust in, it's no good at all

Lazy Sunday afternoon, I've got no mind to worry
Close my eyes and drift away-aaa

Here we all are sittin' in a rainbow
Cor blimey hello Mrs. Jones how's old Bert's lumbago?
I'll sing you a song with no words and no tune
To sing in your party while you suss out the moon, oh yeah

Lazy Sunday afternoon, I've got no mind to worry
Close my eyes and drift away, close my eyes and drift away, close my eyes and drift away.

Day 50 - Special post - May You Never

I learned last night that my best friend had been taken into hospital. I was with his partner after she returned from hospital (both are true friends) and she was distraught, as is there 11-year old daughter. I await news but it sounds like something 'inside has burst and is bleeding'.

Sounds terrible but I hope for positive news very soon. Like me, he needs to change his life but this of course (and I respect this) is his decision. I am sure the docs are giving him some of this advice right now. I will do all I can to support him and his family when he returns home.

God bless him.

I love him and his partner and this song is about him and her.

Title: May You Never

Artist: John Martyn

Album: Solid Air

Year: 1973

May you never lay your head down, without a hand to hold

May you never make your bed out in the cold

Your just like a great strong brother of mine and you know that I love you true

You never talk dirty behind my back and I know there are those that do

Won't you please, won't you please, won't you bear in mind

Love is a lesson to learn in our time

Won't you please, won't you please, won't you bear in mind for me

May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold

May you never make your bed out in the cold

And your just like a good close sister me and you know that I love you true

You hold no blade to stab me in the back and I know that some do

Won't you please, won't you please, won't you bear in mind

Love is a lesson to learn time

Won't you please, won't you please, won't you bear it in mind for me

May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold

May you never make your bed out in the cold

May you never lose your temper if you get hit in a bar room fight

May you never lose your woman over night

May you never lay your head down, without a hand to hold

May you never make your bed out in the cold

May you never lose your temper if you get hit in a bar room fight

May you never lose your woman over night

Day 49 - Everything's not lost (yet)

You know, when I started this journey I could not really see myself losing even three stone let alone more, if I am honest. In fact I started out wanting to change my life, hence the Blog title, and whilst this was most certainly how I felt, I am not sure I understood how I could do this. The how is something that is starting to change for me, I am so pleased to say.

So to do the 3 in 6 (3 stone in 6 weeks) was sort of a watershed for me, because I never envisaged such a major step, even in my wildest dreams and despite all the LL publicity. For other people yes, but not little (well not so little) ordinary me. However, beyond this point I travel into the unknown and the unexpected. I guess in some ways I now realise I am changing, most importantly inside my head, never mind outside in my body.

It has most certainly become less of a question of 'how much weight will I lose' and become one of 'based on my progress what opportunities does this offer me too change my life forever'. I would say I am now realising I have in my own hands the very potential I wanted to achieve and caused me to start the blog, an opportunity to 'change my life....forever'. This is VERY motivational for me.

And I say this because I guess deep down I wasn't convinced it would work. However, now I am making good progress this is making me think of the positive possibilities this holds for me, my family and my life. I must admit I am looking 'forward' much more than I ever have before. I know that I will do some things differently, but I mean know not think. I know I will drink alcohol differently, eat food differently, just run my life differently.

So onto week 7 and I lost a further 4 lb. I guess I should expect a slow down, but it is still a few pounds over 3 stone. And so my way to the two month milestone. Oh and by the way, I have been trying to walk 30-40 minutes a day regularly, but with the inclement weather this has made this increasingly difficult. Sooooo....I am starting at my son's gym on Sunday. He has given me all the encouragement to join, including getting them to waive the start up fee! I shall therefore make a mid-week post on Sunday after my first introduction to the dark side of exercise.

A newer song to think about in those moments when I am reflecting on what I have really learned. Indeed in life everything is most definitely not lost.

Song: Everything's not lost

Artist: Coldplay

Album: Parachutes

Year: 2000

If you ever feel neglected,
If you ever think all is lost,
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah,
Hoping everything's not lost,
Everything's not lost,
When I'm counting up my demons.

There's always one for everyday,
With the good ones on my shoulder,
I drove the other ones away.

If you ever feel neglected,
If you think all is lost,
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah,
Hoping everything's not lost.

When you thought it was over,
You could feel it all around,
Everybody's out to get you,
Don't you let it drag you down.

Cos if you eve feel neglected,
If you think that all is lost,
I'll be counting all the demons, yeah.

Singing out o yeah
Everything's not lost,
Come on yeah, o yeah, come on yeah,
Everything's not lost,