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It's the occasion of another New Year. A time for resolutions. A time for introspection and sentimentality. This time, I got nothing. I don't have any ideas about resolutions. I've already meditated on the melancholy of the holiday season. My history of resolutions as written in this blog have been predictable. I always need to lose weight. I always have some goal in mind that just won't work with my occupation. I am always getting a good start and never following through. I don't see this as a failing, just the nature of living. Some seasons make discipline easier. And other seasons make it impossible. My weight loss over since 2006 is more than my body weight. My training for the various events I've wanted to do has always been thwarted by some health issue. SO I'm not making any resolutions this year. I've got plenty of things to do on the calendar that will be enough enjoyment for any year. So if there is any goals for 2015 it would be to do those th

Just as I imagined, Christmas derailed my little program. I didn't gain everything back so I've kept some progress which was my motive for starting my dieting so soon. I cooked a lot of the food this year and I have to say, I made some really tasty things that kept me eating too much for days as we ground down the leftovers in the fridge. So now I am back on the program. I'll have 5 lbs to re-lose but that's ok. I'll get busy taking it off. Weather here at the last of December has been cold and rainy. In fact we got so much rain, the lake filled back up in two days. It is brimming now. I've managed some short runs and some walks with the dog. I am having a bit of illness that is slowing me down but I expect that to pass soon. Then it is back to running, cycling, hiking....whatever I can get done. Now it is time for that annual introspection and resolutions.

Today was the 21st day of my diet program. This week is Christmas. It is the 24 hrs of Christmas where I will diverge for a day from my regiment and have a little fun. Then it is back to the grind. Perhaps I can get in some running to offset the extra calories. I will be glad to get it done and back to the routine. I hope the boys will have a spectacular holiday. I'm sure the rest of us can make the best of it.

Well I'm soldiering on with the diet. Weather has been chilly so bike riding would be uncomfortable. Instead I've done some trail running, being careful not to do it 2 days in a row and not too far. My longest runs of later are 7 mile. I've also been busy with a lot of projects around the house. I built two karate belt holders for the boys. I've assembled Bev's Christmas gift. I have sanded and refinished the coffee table and side table. I still have one to go. And I've taken care of a lot of outdoor stuff too. GO me.

So this morning was the official weigh in. I am down to 221. That's still pretty heavy but I am beginning to feel a little better. Perhaps after another couple of weeks I can manage my trousers better. I'm heading for 190 or less. Christmas is 9 days away at this point. Or 8 days till my scheduled day of down time for my diet. One day. Then back on the straight and narrow. Tomorrow morning looks rainy so I may get out and do a little run.

Today is the 2 week mark in my diet program. I feel like I've made some progress. Weather has kept me from doing much riding but I have done a few runs here and there. I imagined myself doing a lot more running and that may happen yet. As my weight decreases, I expect that to be more and more easy to do. Right now with each step I take, I lug the weight of a 40 lbs sack of feed on my body. I really want to make it to a very lean body this time. I haven't been able to yet. Each summer I seem to lose my focus and get into a bad habit of eating everything in sight. Maybe not this year.

It is harder to maintain the diet regimen on one's week off. There are just more opportunities to eat but I've managed to stay away from overdoing it. Just tomorrow and I will be back on the work week where things are more regimented. Last week I think I lost 2 lbs. I am hoping to have repeated that for this week. I'll know Monday.

My first full week back on the strict diet. It wasn't that hard but I had to remind myself again and again that I would be inflexible for this week. I didn't weight myself at week's start so I'm not sure how much weight was lost. But I weighed last night and saw 228. I'll officially weigh tomorrow morning.

Today is one of the tough days. I've been used to the work week with its schedule. Now the weekend with another schedule. No cafeteria open to purchase supper. I had to bring leftovers from lunch. Although it seemed a tiny amount, it was precisely what was allowed. I was really missing the Diet Mountain Dew today. I felt tempted to take one to work. I defeated that urge but when I got to work, I found 4 in the refrigerator. But so far, I've held out. I can't quit now. Today is the 6th so just 17 days till Christmas Eve. I am telling myself that I can take a little liberty on the 24 hours of Christmas. In fact I'm sure there won't be another option since family dinner and all that will be the order of the day. But the next day, I'm right back on a disciplined diet. I am so pleased that Max rode a bike today. I might look at the gears on that bike to see if I can make it a little easier for him to ride. A smaller chain ring or maybe a bigger cog. Now if I can ge

This morning I spent kayaking. It was a good workout for the arms but probably not as efficient as cycling. After a paddle back to the waterfall, I tried to start my little outboard. I will probably have to clean the carburetor. This time I'm learning how to do it myself. They charged me over $100 last time for something that takes just a minute. Still on track with eating. Work weeks are easier for the diet. Every day has a predictable schedule. Next week when I'm off will be a challenge. Instant access to treats and food will require a little more discipline.

Continuing to handle the temptation. Lots of yummies at the house lately but I'm staying clear. I finally got on the scale this morning. 230. Yep, it is just as I thought. All that time since August of 2012 have added up. But I can begin to carve some off. At this time, I'm not adding my exercise to my Fitness Pal. Just going it cold turkey. Feeling a little weak. When I get to eat, I really need it. Right now I'm starving.

Another day of being disciplined. I felt very weak and slow on today's 25 mile bike ride. Maybe the reduced calories made me kinda bonk. Who knows. Bev had a house full of Christmas baking. I managed to resist it. I wasn't really tempted. I think I've got a pretty good idea of just how fat and miserable I've become, and I've made the choice to do something about it. Today I saw an article that said that curtailing late night trips for snacks may be more important that dieting. If true, I've got that going for me as well. I had become very active with late night snacking. Having cut that out will help with my overall plan.

24 hours of miserable. Last night when I got home I survived a strong urge to break discipline and just eat whatever is in sight. I resisted. Today, I had a pretty good bike ride followed by a sensible lunch. No high calorie density stuff to wreck my game. But enough is enough. I am bursting out of my biggest pants. It is way past time to get this back in check.

After indulging myself for Thanksgiving, I have found myself heavier than I've been in years. I haven't been able to sustain a regimen of exercise or eating since I finished the MCM in 2012. But I have to now. I am exceeding my clothing. So I can't continue to slack. I'll come here and post daily to see if I can get my thoughts together. I'm like a Sisyphus who's rock has rolled all the way back down the mountain and landed on top of me.