Geeked Out Weight Loss Series: Power Rangers: Missing Green
For the first GOWL of 2012, I am going back to the Power Rangers! Today, I’m watching the episode “Missing Green” from the second season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. (And every episode of Power Rangers is available on Netflix’s Watch Instantly!)
If you are a new reader or don’t remember me doing these sporadically last year, basically, I watch something geeky that appeals to me (frequently Power Rangers or something on Nickelodeon), recap it along with some pictures, and then provide an example of a weight loss analogy that is present somewhere within. Sometimes the analogies are easy and just fall in my lap. At other times, they have to be pried out, but either way, I try to make it work.
The Plot:
Red Ranger Jason is having difficulty concentrating as he practices for an upcoming martial arts tournament. However, his mind isn’t focused. Jason is having a lot of guilt because he feels it his fault that Tommy (the former Green Ranger) lost his powers.
His fellow Rangers decide to try and find Tommy so that Jason can know, for sure, that it wasn’t his fault.
Lord Zedd, of course, sends Goldar to capture the Ranger teens. Goldar is successful, and Lord Zedd now has what he needs to lure the Red Ranger into a trap.
Jason, alone, morphs, goes into battle, and ultimately succeeds in saving his fellow Rangers.
Better yet, Alpha uses the Command Center’s amazing technology to locate Tommy, where in a voiceover we learn that Tommy holds no ill will toward Jason and is totally okay. He’s also suspiciously wearing white instead of green. Could Tommy be planning to return as the White Ranger? Nah, that’s just hopeful thinking.
But Jason, self-esteem restored, goes to the tournament and wins.
The Analogy:
Yeah, this one is pretty easy. Jason’s performance in the beginning was impacted because his heart wasn’t in it. It took some soul searching and fighting with Goldar (and some technological stalking of Tommy) for Jason to regain his self-esteem. As soon as he did, he performed amazingly and placed first at the tournament.
How often have we let US get in the way of our self-esteem? Nothing change in Jason’s world from the beginning of this episode and the end. Tommy still isn’t a Ranger. All that Jason learned was that Tommy doesn’t hold the loss of his Ranger powers against him.
It really is true; you have to think well of yourself.
If your confidence is shot, then you will not do well.
If you have no self-esteem, then you will not perform.
If you think poorly of yourself, then you will fail.
I’ve come a long way in my journey, and I really do feel like this time, my head is where it needs to be for me to lose this weight. I got fat for a reason, and I stayed fat for a reason. And now, I’m losing weight for a reason.
Because I’m worth it.
But you can hear me say I’m worth it all day long. Are you worth it? And only you can answer that.
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Eat Smart Scale Giveaway
I have been using my Eat Smart scale for several months out. I received it as a result of this blog, but it has been a great scale. I’ve loved using it, it’s easy to use (no tap on, no weird weight fluctuations), and it’s extremely accurate.
I was recently given the opportunity to host another giveaway, and that is what I am doing right now.
To win your own scale (check it out on Amazon here, you just need to do any (or all) of the following:
1. Leave a comment, telling me you’d like the scale.
2. Tweet the following: “@EatSmartScale & @stellarpath are giving away a scale http://www.stellarpath.net/?p=1094” and then come back here and leave a comment stating you did so.
3. Follow me on twitter (@stellarpath) and let me know with a comment here.
4. Follow me (or let me know you already do) on Google Reader or the other RSS reader of your choice. (Obviously, this one is honor system – just leave a comment letting me know.)
5. Like EatSmartScales on facebook.
6. Follow EatSmartScales on twitter.
For all entries, you must leave a separate comment here. I’ll select the winner by Random Number Generator at random.org next Friday. Entries are closed after 10 p.m. Central Time Thursday, January 19th.
Unfortunately, this is only open to my US readers at this time.
Good luck!
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A Surprising Weigh-In
Why am I making the human equivalent of this face right now?
Because I fully expected to gain this week. We had a late Christmas. I slacked up a bit on the eating front. (Stayed strong with exercise, though. Woo hoo!) I was fully prepared to see a gain of a pound or two.
Instead…
January 13, 2012
Weight: 374.6
Change from Last Week: -1.0 pounds
Change from Highest: -28.2 pounds
I’ll take it.
I’m a slow loser. I’ve known that for a while, and when I go off on tangents and eat too much, I am just exacerbating the problem. I spend too much time waiting for the other shoe to drop and for me to get on the scale and see an amazing gain.
But then I got to thinking about it – I would rather try hard all week and have again than goof off and KNOW why I gained weight. So I am pledging to do this week right.
My goals for next week:
1. Follow my points (including flex points) to a tee. Journal everything!
2. Drink plenty of water.
3. Exercise regularly.
Seems very doable.
And yes, I know that Weight Watchers no longer calls the weekly points Flex Points, but old habits die hard.
In other news, today is Friday the 13th!
If you are a horror fan, like myself, then today is practically a national holiday. I’m very excited that I get to work from home today due to the snow (finally!), and tonight, the missus and I are planning to pop some popcorn and snuggle up on the couch and watch Jason Voorhees disembowel some stupid teenagers. Good times.
One quick note – I held the vote last week to decide who would get the $100, and there was a tie between two organizations. Therefore, I’ll be giving each $50. The winners are the Elephant Sanctuary and 1500 Sanitary Pads for Ugandan Girls. Thanks to everyone who voted!
Let me also share a few links with you this week.
First of all, I finally made (last weekend) a pizza for my 52 Weeks of Pizza! You can read about it on my food blog Stellar Eats.
Josie at Yum Yucky offers proof that working out gives you swagger.
Kerri O at Fit Views shares a paleo mayonnaise recipe. I’m not quite brave enough yet to tackle making my own mayo, but I really do want to try eventually! It’s got to taste better than the chemical-laden stuff you buy in the stores.
Hanlie at Ordinary Abundance describes why she is a hippie. For what it’s worth, I’m apparently a hippie, too.
Come back tomorrow for a giveaway post!
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A First Week Weigh-In
If you are reading this blog as a result of a search you just conducted for weight loss, healthy living, workouts, or any combination therein, welcome! I am very pleased to have you here.
I hold a weekly weigh-in every Friday. It is one of my goals this year to lose this excess weight I have given myself. Right now, my goal weight is 180. I realize as I get closer to this goal, I may reevaluate, and I am fine with that. 180 is just a number that exists in my head so I can imagine, “That’s where I’d like to end up.”
I will point out that I am very broad-shouldered (God help me, I really AM big boned) and six feet tall, so 180 may be WAY too low. Regardless, 180 is what I am shooting for right now. We shall see.
As for how I am losing weight, I’ll write a much more detailed blog post in the coming days, but basically, I am cutting out white sugar, white flour, processed food, preservatives, and as many chemicals as I can.
I have to disclaim right now – the first few days of eating clean were HARD. I wanted nothing more than to say “screw it, I’ll just count calories!” and eat everything in sight.
I did not do this, because experience has shown me that, for me, a calorie is not a calorie is not a calorie. When I was in my mid-20s, that was absolutely the case. I could just eat less of junk and still lose weight. In my mid-30s, I cannot do that.
You will read a lot of bloggers say that where calories come from is irrelevant. For some people, this is true. If you are one of them, however, do not despair. A LOT of us have to eat clean (whether it is no processed foods, increased fruits and veggies, vegan, Paleo, or anything in between) to lose weight.
But the best part of this eating plan? I feel amazing! I have more energy, my skin is less greasy, my fingernails and hair are even growing faster (seriously – I actually noticed this), and when I do eat something “fake” and processed, within five minutes, I feel like crap. Eating clean makes me feel so good, it is now easy to stay on track.
That also said, I’m not gung-ho, which means I do “bend the rules” occasionally. Honestly, this is more for a financial reason than anything else.
I would say that I eat 90% clean, 10% off-plan. It may even be closer to 98/2, and there are many days in a row where I eat 100% clean. However, life is too short to give up soda forever, in my book, so I occasionally treat myself. I don’t view this as going off plan.
I track my food, although I do not, at the moment, count calories or keep up with points. (When I do track, I use Weight Watchers point system. Although I am not a member at the moment, I still think very highly of WW and their point system makes more sense and is easier to me than strict calories.)
My rule of thumb I am currently giving myself is that if I can lose weight by just tracking my food (currently by writing down in a moleskin journal I keep with me at all times), then I’ll continue just tracking. If I stop losing, I become more strict and keep up with points.
This week is a First Week (of the year) Weigh-In.
So, where I do stand right now?
January 6, 2012
Weight: 375.6
Change from Last Week (actually 1-1-12): -0.8 pounds
Change from All-Time Highest (was 402.3 pounds, several years ago): -27.2 pounds
It isn’t a large loss, but it is a loss. This week, I noticed that when I am hungry, I tend to go for nuts and other high-fat foods. They are clean, but they are still full of fat (albeit good fats) and calories. I am not limiting them, but I am going to be more aware of going for fruits and vegetables in the coming week. Hopefully, it will increase my weight loss for next week.
I have decided that for the first Friday weigh-in of every month, I am going to review my 2012 Resolutions and see how I am faring!
1. I am going to weigh less each month.
January’s Goal: Weigh less than 376.4 on February 1st.
To accomplish this, I will continue to work out, eat clean, and be mindful of what food goes into my body.
2. I am going to continue to eat clean.
This one is very subjective, so I am not giving myself a monthly goal. However, I am going to continue blogging about eating clean, so stay tuned.
3. I am going to significantly increase my fitness without a gym membership.
Last year at this time, the gyms were so crowded I couldn’t stand it. This year, my wife and I work out at home. We can get just as good a workout at home as we could in a gym, and it’s free! This one is also subjective, but I will soon report on what we do for a workout.
Just know this – you can workout ANYWHERE.
4. On my food blog, I am going to create a different pizza each week for my 52 Weeks of Pizza Project.
January’s Goal: Create and document four different pizzas.
We’re doing our first pizza tomorrow night. No problem. I LOVE pizza!
5. I am going to obtain my ACE Personal Fitness Certification this year.
January’s Goal: Complete the first two weeks of the ACE 20-week certification program.
Yes, I know there are four weeks in January, but I am going to commit to only finishing two this month. I also am continuing the classes for my second Master’s degree, and I have to plan the curriculum for the classes I am teaching that begin this month. Two weeks will be a nice way to get back into studying.
6. I am going to write at least 10,000 words of fiction per month.
January’s Goal: Finish “plotting” and get those 10,000 words written!
I am a wannabe author. More to the point, I want to be a young adult author. I have a novel I am working on, and I’ve already got around 15,000 words written, but there is a plot snarl coming up I need to get sorted out. I can absolutely do this, though.
For me, the best thing I can do as a writer is to NOT STOP. If I take a few days off for any reason (usually because I hit a wall), it is so easy to just stop. I have to keep writing.
Okay, a few other things. I said back in December if that I could reach 369 by January 1st, I’d donate $100 to my favorite charity, and if I didn’t, I’d donate $100 to a charity that YOU choose. This is the survey. I opened comments to suggest charities, and these were the three that came up. Please vote, and whoever is ahead on
Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world’s leading questionnaire tool.
All three of these look like good organizations, and I am happy for any of the three to get the money. You have until January 12th to vote. I’ll announce the winner at next Friday’s weigh-in!
And lastly, you have until January 8th to sign up for the very first Healthy Living Postcard Exchange! This is a way to get motivation in the mail. Visit the link above to find out more and learn how to sign up. If you don’t want to join this month, you can, of course, join future months at ANY time.
We’re a week into 2012. How are you resolutions (if you made any) holding up?
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One last ornament…
Okay, please don’t judge for us still having the tree up (Vegas threw us off – it’s coming down this weekend) but we got this awesome Dr. Seuss ornament tonight from Hallmark for 75% off. Seuss is awesome!
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