Mission and Prepwork

So, for the last few months I've been counting calories and limiting them slowly but surely. My goal is to limit my daily caloric intake to 1600 with the exception of one day a week.

Previously I was using Sunday as my "free" day, but as our church has done away with the after-service luncheons for a while, I plan to move that day to Saturday.

In addition to the calorie counting, I also am attempting to drink at least seven or eight cups of water each day.

For exercise, I am doing the "Body for Life" twenty minute aerobic exercise on an elliptical walker. With each session I burn around 200 calories. I have been doing that now, almost daily (with the exception of my free days) for two weeks.

So...

I have several goals or missions. Ultimately, I hope to get down to about 150 pounds, give or take ten, depending on how my musculature is, etc. At the moment of this writing, I am too heavy -- 235 pounds.

I have some short and long term goals. Here they are:

1) Seeing as my wife is expecting a baby in August, I would like to be 220 pounds by August 1. I think I can get there if I am consistent.

2) My goal for after the baby is born is to be 200 pounds by January 1, 2011.

3) Next stage will be to get to 180 pounds by April 1, 2011. The 180 pounds was a goal suggested by my doctor. I know I can pull it off. It will just take commitment and time.

4) Finally, I want to reach 150 pounds by August 1, 2011. Again, I don't think that's too lofty a goal. Let's see how it goes.


The problem I encounter is that being a father of five it is very difficult to eat the way I "should" all the time -- kids are generally picky eaters, and "calorie-dense" food is often times more convenient than the good stuff.

Also, as a priest, I am frequently invited to participate in events where I am exposed to lots of food and expected to eat at least some of everything served. I have to find a way not only to manage what I eat, but graciously to decline things that do not fit into my dietary needs.

I will put a post up later today to give my first calorie count of the blog.