It's not just about me anymore (video)

More to come with the website in the next few months. Videos, Vlogs, Pictures. My focus right now is getting and staying in the gym to reach my ultimate goal of losing over 200 pounds.

My Goal at this very moment. Being able to drop as many pounds as I can before the baby arrives in November.

My wishes have and are coming true and I'm not going to let my battle with obesity stop me from being able to embrace these wishes.

I will accomplish my goal of losing over 200 pounds, and I want you all there to see it.

Small Weight Gain and Baby's Heartbeat

I'm going through one of those times again where I fail to update everyone on what's going on in my life.

I weighted in this past Saturday and was up 2.2 pounds. I knew I was. I had ha a stressful two weeks with work and just being all around busy. I haven't been to the gym as much as I should be. I haven't went overboard but I haven't followed WW as I normally do.

Ok enough whining...

Now for some good stuff. Amy is doing great. She is 11 weeks now and the due date was moved up a little from our last appointment. The doctor said that due to the size and everything from the first ultrasound that was done, that we're a little farther along then we first thought. Not a big jump though. Instead of the due date being the 27th of November, it has been moved up to the 23rd.

The greatest thing about our last appointment was that for the first time we both got to hear our baby's heartbeat. It was a little emotional and made it real. I'm living the dream right now. It was an amazing feeling that I don't think can be put into words. For those of you that have experienced it before I think you all know what I mean.

We're both very excited and looking forward to what comes ahead. I'll for sure keep everyone posted on that.

I can't believe in a million years did i ever think I was going to become a weight loss and Daddy blogger...lol

I'm not complaining it's two very great things that I'm very proud of and I woulodn't change it for the world.

Our family is growing, There's a Baby on the way

Wow. Now that the news has been broken to friends and family, I can now tell the world on my blog. A post a while back I had this to say

1. Become a husband (done)

2. Become a father (Amy and I are working on this...lol) (baby on the way)

3. Get down to half my weight (in process) (down 46 pounds to date)

Yes Amy is now pregnant and we're expecting a little one to our family come November. I can't put into words how excited I feel.

This is huge to me. I've dreamed for a long time on becoming a father. To me it was the only thing I really knew. Growing up in a family that was a strong as mine, and witnessing just how much in love my father was with my Mom for 36+ years till the day he passed on.

I asked my Dad one night if he was mad/angry at God for being diagnosed with cancer. He looked at me as serious as he almost always was and said I'm not mad at all. I thank him for the time that he gave me a wife that loves me and two wonderful boys that I've never had to worry about.

I knew right then what life meant to me, and what I really wanted in life and that's a family.

Life is going very well for me right now, I'm enjoying my job, my wife, losing the weight and working out, my friends, my family. I'm just in a really good place right now.

I want to thank everyone for the love and support. Amy and I, are very excited and for me November can you please come any sooner.

The Scale Doesn't Lie (Week 11 Weigh-In)

Well, I'm not going to do a real big post this week.  I have finally gained.  I'm ok really.  I know that I'm changing my life and for that I am not going to let this get to me.  I'm working really hard on this journey and I've said it before if I let this little bumps in the road get to me then it'll be all over.

This week I gained 1 pound.......

last week 480.5 -3lbs Total weight loss 42.5lbs

This week 481.5 + 1lb Total Weight loss 41.5lbs

The Scale Doesn't Lie (Week 10 Weigh-In)

Had to get weighed in early this week as Amy & I are going up to Traverse City for the weekend to hang out with a friend of mine and also catch a Uncle Kracker show.

I didn't want to weight in at night but had to.  I feared that I wouldn't show a weight loss.  I did prepare myself though.

I also want to let everyone know that I'm going to be starting a new workout routine at my gym.  Met with the trainer last night and he evaluated me and got a feeling of where I want to be and is working on a new program.  I honestly and truly believe this is the best news in my weight loss goals.  I feel very confident in him and how he and I see the big picture.

I'm just feeling really good about myself right now and how things are going.  I'm still able to eat and i don't find myself wanting as much as I used too.  The great thing is i still fell good.  I still feel as if I have eating enough.

I often catch myself day dreaming about what I'm gonna look like and how much better I'm going to feel this time next year.  More importantly, how much more healthy.

So now for the numbers

Last week I was 483.5
This week I was 480.5 -3lbs Total weight loss 42.5lbs

The Scale Doesn't Lie (Week 9 Weigh-In)

So I've gone 9 weeks.  9 Straight weeks of losing weight.  I have not gained any weight since starting WW the beginning of Jan.

I'm really proud of myself for sticking with this as best as I can and looking at the future and where I want to be.  Unlike like the times before where I have tried to lose the weight, something about this times feels so different.

I have yet to doubt myself like I have in the past with may diets that I have been on.

I've come to terms that this is how I will live the rest of my new life.  (portion control & working out)

I'm learning to love myself enough now that I want to take care of me.  I enjoy the feeling knowing that man I've just got done working out and it felt great.

I have visions all the time of this time next year.  The hard work and the new me.  I get excited about it.  It keeps me going big time.

I think the difference this time around is that all the times I've dieted before I felt like I had to do it, this time around I want to do it.

OK now to the weigh in
 Last week 485.3
This week 483.5 -1.8lbs Total weight loss 39.5lns

This should give a boost of motivation

I've been here before. I know exactly where I'm at. I did it once before.

I at one time lost 100 pounds. Yep Me. Hard to believe right?

what the heck happened? How come you didn't continue and keep it off and lose more?

I could give you all the excuses in the world but what would it do? It doesn't change where I'm at now.

On Jan 3rd 2010 I weighed in at 523 pounds. I couldn't believe it. I had gained almost all of the weight that I had lost back in a 2-3 year period.

Dec 1st of 2007 I was 439 pounds. AND HAD LOST OVER 100 POUNDS I had been doing the Beaumont shake diet and had lost most of my weight on that program and then I joined WW with Amy and lost more weight still on my shakes and incorporating food into my diet.

Now at 490 I still have 51 pounds before I get to where I was......

The only reason I'm writing this is because I found an old Weight Watchers booklet that had my past weigh ins.

I hate that I have to work so much harder, but I can't play the what if game. I can't come up with or make excuses, I can't cry over it. I can't let food control my life anymore.

I just have to do what I've been doing and as times goes on the weight will come off. I have to believe that. I have to believe that now is the time where I have taken what has been giving to me and realized what's important in life.

ME

I have evaluated myself worth and I'm worth too much to to let it control me again.

The Scale Doesn't Lie (Week 7 Weigh-In)

I'm frustrated

I'm busting my ass and now I feel stuck. I still lost this week just not the big numbers I want. I went to the doctor the beginning of the month and god my blood work back. My doctor has told me that there is fat in my liver. It's reversible but I need to lose the weight. It tough hearing that. It's tough hearing that pretty much everything else is good other wise with cholesterol and what not.

She basically said that the levels that it's showing are the same of a man who drinks alot. But I don't drink. The fact that it's reversible means that it can be fixed depending on me. If I continue to lose the weight, I will probably lose the fat in the liver as well. Not guaranteed, but I can stop the damage that's already been caused. That's a lot of pressure.

Getting myself health is a main focus right now. It's just what I need/have to do.

I got very fustrated this week becase once again I got on the scale at home before going into WW. A few days ago my number was very different then today's weigh in. So when I got the resluts I was not happy. With that being said....

Last Weeks weigh in 491.2
This weeks weigh in 490.7 -.5lbs
Total weight loss 32.3lbs since 7th of Jan

bottom line, it's still a loss 7 weeks without gaining any weight and I'm going to keep going.

The Scale Doesn't Lie (Week 6 Weigh-In)

Well the Superbowl got to me a little bit. I think I enjoyed it a little too much this year. Amy's uncle makes homemade pizza and they buy party subs and deserts and the whole 9 yards.

I had only worked out one day this past week which I honestly have no excuse for. The gym is open late and if I miss my scheduled time I can always go by myself. But I do find myself enjoying working out more then I ever have before. I feel good when I'm done.

Going for my weigh in, I was thinking man I blew it this week. I overate the weekend but watched myself the whole week. I really thought I had gained.

Here's my results

last week I weighed in at 491.8
this week although I didn't gain I weighed in at 491.2 I lost .6 pounds to me that's still a loss. Not much but a - is better than a + when getting the weight off.

It just proves to me that if I get my butt in the gym more then more weight comes off, it's that simple. Ain't nobody gonna hold me down, oh no, I got to keep on moving.

So true. Well until next week I hope you all have a great/safe week.

The Scale Doesn't Lie (Week 5 Weigh-In)

These past couple weeks have had 3 birthdays for me to get through and you know what.... I still managed to lose weight.

I really dig weight watchers. It WORKS. You stick to their way of eating, tracking and following the points system and you don't get deprived of food. Not at all.

These past two weeks, I have had three pieces of Birthday cake as we celebrated my birthday, my moms, & Amy's sisters.

We even had turkey dinner with mash potatoes and stuffing. I'm just really learning how to manage what I eat. Portion control is a big part of the process. This is definitely a life style change.

The choices in food however are endless. Yes there's WW types of recipes but sometimes you can step out and treat yourself to what you really want.

This weeks weight in I was a little scared. I had only worked out 1 day out of the week and felt it wasn't enough. I did however have a busy week at work and I think that might have made up for some of the calorie burn.

This weeks weigh in

Last week I was at 495 pounds for a total weight loss of 28lbs
This week I'm at 491.8 for a total weight loss of 31.2 pounds.

I was down 3.2 pounds this past week.

I just want to once again thank everyone that visits my blog here. It means a lot to me. You all are making me accountable and I feel as if I don't want to let you all down as much as I don't want to let myself down.

I wish you all success & happiness. See you next week

Love (Early Childhood & Present)

My whole life I have never been skinny. Always obese, even when I was young. I can't wait til the day where the doctor tells me that I'm not obese anymore just overweight.

I don't think I have ever wanted this more now than I ever have in my life before. When I was younger I put on a show for everyone, but deep down I think the only one that really knew my struggles was my mother.

I was the happy kid, never showed that my weight was an issue. Of course I got picked on as a kid. You would have thought I would have done something about it. I honestly had a really good childhood except for the fact that I was obese.

I had many friends, was active in sports mostly baseball.

The only thing that I always said I was missing as I got older and was interested in girls, was a girl.

I had crushes, I had what I thought was loves, I had dreams. But when it came to girls, I just wasn't the guy they were looking for.

You know the classic line, "I just like you as a friend"

Then after High School & into my twenties where I was hanging at the bars, I dabbled in all of that but never committed myself.

I tired the online dating thing but never was really interested or they would never pan out. Mostly because I would date secretly and not even let my family & friends know. Then when it came that time for ultimate commitment I would break it off.

Why? I was scarred. I have no other explanation.

Then came Amy into my life. She was the first girl that I really wanted to have my friends and family meet. Something was very different about her. I had always though I had been in love before, but I honestly don't think there is such thing as love until you find the right one. Then and only then do you truly experience love.

I used to always blame my weight for not having that special someone in my life. I used to beat girls up about it too (not literally...lol). Can't blame them. I wasn't for them, I was meant for my Wife.

I guess the reason for this long post.....

For the very first time in my life, I have a true meaning to lose this weight. Not only for myself but for her. She choose me, we choose each other. It wasn't about looks or about weight.

I love her so much that I'm not only doing this for myself but for her. This past month whenever I have doubted myself, all I had to do was think about her or look at a picture and get myself back on track. I've not slipped up nor have I cheated.

She's my true soul-mate, she is my motivation, she is why this time around......

I WILL NOT FAIL

The Scale Doesn't Lie (Week 2 Weigh-In)

Ok, I honestly didn't think this week could be as good as last week. I had my doubts. I was doing something that you should never do. It should be forbidden in the world of Weight Watchers. I found myself getting on the stupid scale every morning before I went to work. When you see the small numbers you get discouraged. This was my feeling. At first I was like I'm doing everything the same as I did the first week.

Another thing I'll be honest about is, you gotta keep moving. It's so very true. I've been going to the gym and mostly walking on the treadmill. about 30min 15 then a few minute break and then back on. Once I drop more pounds I want to start weight training. I'm just afraid of my back right now. I know it will get stronger as more weight comes off.

So now the moment you have all been waiting for.

You can no longer call me the 500 pound man. I lost a total of 9.8 pounds for week 2

Start 523
week 1 509 (14 pounds lost)
week 2 499.2 (23.8 pounds lost) Next week I hope to get my 25 pound weight loss charm

I'm really proud of myself. I keep on telling myself that it's only going to get harder and that just makes me want to fight more.

I'm not only doing this for me, I'm doing it for my wife and the fact that we're trying to bring another into this world that I need to be here for my family & my friends.

I want to thank everyone for their support and please keep it coming. Doing this blog keeps me accountable, there's no excuses in weight loss. if you do it as planed it works. "The Scale Doesn't Lie"

Finding Inspiration

It's now week 2 on Weight Watchers and I'm feeling great. I'm eating well and not feeling like I have to go looking for more.

I'm honestly in a mind set that I really don't have any other choice but to get this right. I need to follow the rules...lol The program works. I have in the past few days been online looking at people that have lost over 200 pounds on Weight Watchers & to my surprise there's more than I expected out there. If they can do it so can I. Below if just a few people that I have found and have inspired me to accomplish them long journey.

Dane's getting skinny

The Anti Jared

I'm following these guys blogs because they have been where I'm at and have gotten to where I want to be. They're my inspiration.

I'm gonna get there I just don't know when or how long it's going to take. There is no rushing this it's got to be done right. I want to be able to say I'm healthy.

I watch Doctor Oz all the time and see this real age thing that he does, I can only imagine what mine would be. I turn 31 on the 23rd of this month.

I just have so much hope and faith that this time around it'll finally click, I have no other choice.

The Scale Doesn't Lie (Week 1 Weigh-In)

Just got back from Weight Watchers with Amy and we both are excited about our week one weigh-in.

I've done weight watcher in the past and it has worked for me, I've done the Beaumont diet and lost over 100 pounds. I've been on the highs and the lows of weight loss. This to me is truly my last shot and getting it right. I want this more than anything right now. Last Tuesday when watching the Biggest loser and seeing the biggest guy ever on BL weighed in at 526, I seen me up there. I weighed in at 523 last week at Weight Watchers. I know very scary and very crazy. There's some things you just can't control. This though I can with no excuses.

This past week I have worked out, followed the WW way of eating, tracked what I have been eating. It's amazing that you can eat good portion sized meals and be satisfied. This is something that I've never really been able to teach myself.

SO now onto the news you all have been wating for.

I'm proud to say that Both Amy and I were giving an award in out meeting today.

Amy has lost a total of 5 pounds in her first week

I'm proud to report that I have lost a total of 14 pounds.......

Still a very long road ahead and I can't get my hopes up that every week will be 14 pounds, but my goal is to lose half of my starting body weight. No time frame.

I want to thank everyone for their support this first week and for buddy Pat for pushing me at the GYM. I know more of that is coming.

I feel good and hope to bring you all more successful blog posts.

Weight Watchers & GYM Time

Well Amy & I have joined weight watchers and looking to follow the points system as to not give up food all together like i have in the past with my shake program. I kick myself in the ass everyday and think where I might be if I would have stuck with my diet. I lost over 100 pounds in a year. I was on my way. At first I used the excuse of my Dad;s passing as to a reason for the weight gain. I'm at my heavest I have ever been in my life. I have gained back more than I have lost. It's really sad. Back problems have come back, I really am less motivated than before. I'm not depressed. I'm Happy, I just need to change my life style.

There's something about getting married that really triggers something in you. I want to be here and share as long as I can make possible with my wife. We have talked about starting a family and I need to be there for when god give us a beautiful child. Not oly do I need to be there, I also need to get myself more physical so that I'm not that father that plops down on the couch and doesn't play with his kids.

I have dreams and visions and to be corny, I sometimes find myself day dreaming about the future. I like what I see. But I see myself healthy. I'm not there yet.

Amy and I need to feed off eachother and get to where we want to be. I want and need all of your help as well.

I'm going to be taking you on this challenge. Letting you in on some deepest darkest secrets. Both by bloggin and vloggin.

I hope you will all come along for the ride.

I'll keep you all posted with what's going on here on the blog, on twitter and on my TooBIGtv channel.

I may even from time to time bring ya to the GYM with me. I'm going to start going to the GYM on a regular basis as well.

I feel like I'm getting another chance, I have something to prove. I have a goal.

Thank You

Joining Shaycarl's Weight Loss Contest

So I'm sitting here watching ShaysCarls YouTube channel. If you pay any attention to youtune then you should already know ShayCarl. Anyway he's starting a contest and I thought since Amy and I are starting back on WW the 1st of the year, I'm going to participate in this. He has slightly changed the rules a little bit, he first asks for a picture but has since changed that you now have to submit a video so there can be no cheating. The contest will last for 3 months and winners will be featured in one of his videos and also have the chance to win prizes. I'm going to submit my video tomorrow night. See Shay's video below kicking the contest off.

TooBIGtv

Hey all I added something new to the site. Using the capabilities of UStream, I've added to the right of this post a feed for when I go live. GO live your asking. Well from time to time I'll be going live from either @ home or on the road. UStream allows me to take a live feed from my Droid phone and broadcast it to the world.

Just something new I want to try and sometimes I have a few words on my mind and want to say it instead of write it.

Really the focus of TooBIGtv is I want to bring all of you into my world my journey as I start my mission on loosing the weight again.

After the fist of the year I'll be joining a GYM, Starting back on weight watchers with Amy and getting myself back in gear.

My goal is to lose half my current weight. It going to be no easy task. It's going to take a lot of hard work and ass busting. But I believe in myself and feel I can accomplish this.

It's hard when you know it's something that deep down inside you can control.

Well please tune in and join UStream and start following me so that you know when I'm live.

See ya on the interwebz

What does it take, A must read if you know Jess Perreca Jr.

When do you really start believing what you say to yourself. Wither it be out load or some things you just say to yourself? When do you make a promise to yourself that you really keep?

My weight has been a struggle all my life. I grew up angry at the world and never really did anything about it, till I read a news article about a local man (Larry Coker) that lost I believe at that time over 500 pounds. He was starting up a program for kids that wanted to lose weight. I begged my Mom & Dad to sign me up.

I loved that class and everything about it. I was in an environment where all the kids were felling the same way I did and Larry was our hero. I lost about 65 pounds in that stretch and was on a roll.....

Then one day we all showed up for our weekly meeting and Larry was not there, another week went by and Larry was not there. My parents were paying this Man and he was not there supporting us anymore.

I was crushed and gave up.

Later on in life I would dabble with some other diets and they had minimal results. I then found the Beaumont diet. An all shake diet that surprisingly worked. I lost weight but a trip up north with my friends and a pizza and snacks later saying to myself oh I'll get back on track when we get back home was just the beginning.

I would then gain more weight to only one day wake up to want to do it again.

As determined as ever I started back up on the all shake diet. I was cruising. I was on my way. I lost over 100 pounds only to stumble when my father passed away from cancer. I gained all that weight back and more.

As I sit here and type this, I'm truly in disgust with myself and am looking deep inside me for a new beginning. I need to find a way to control myself and my eating habits. I need to find a way to be more active instead of working my 8 hour day and coming home and sitting in front of the TV and computer.

I've told my wife Amy that I want to join a gym with a trainer and she's very supportive and for it. I have yet to sign up it not because I'm stalling but with the wedding and holidays the money doesn't support it right now.

We have both committed to join weight watchers like we had when we first met and it both worked for us, we'll be starting that the first of the year.

I need to get a hold of my own support system and shake it and tell it that I have many things to live for and goals that I have yet to accomplish.

I'm at my heaviest weight I have ever been at and something needs to change. Wait I NEED TO CHANGE.

There is two goals that I have always made for myself before I leave this world, the first was that I wanted to become a husband. I have fulfilled that goal and the 2nd being that I wanted to be a father.

There's a lot of responsibility that comes with being a father and a husband and that's being able to be here for them. If I want to be a father as much as I say I do then I will make these changes, I will not die on my kids because of something that I feel I can control.

I'm writing this post today as a reminder for myself that I'm promising myself and my future child that I'm going to do everything I can to change my ways.


I know this was long and if your at this point I appreciate all your support.

I will not fail you, me, my wife, or my future family.

Thank You

25 Days, 24 Pounds

When I started this diet/lifestyle change back on the 4th of April, I knew that I could succeed because I have in the past. They say that for every 3500 pounds you can cut in a week/day/month/ adds up to one pound weight loss. And if you looks at the calorie intake calculators that are out there on the internet, they say for the weight i'm at I can consume 5500 calories in a day and maintain my current weight. I never realized that. That's a lot of freaking food. Portion control alone can help you lose weight. 5500 calories. So I've been thinking that if I lost nearly a pound a day I must be cutting 3500. I did some math with the things I have been eating lately and it adds up. I still think that 2000 is a lot of food. If you eat less it can train yot brain that all you need is that amount. It takes time but it does happen. I remember back when I lost over 100 pounds from doing the same thing I'm doing now. I learned what it was like to be full. The problem I had was I decided to re stretch my stomach and start the process over again gaining almost all the weight back.

I have no more chances with this. I have my ultimate future ahead of me and I don't want to wreck it. I don't want to be the lazy dad that tells his kid he's too busy to play catch.

You have to vision what you want to get it. It you sit and hope that it comes to you it will never happen.

Monday Weigh In

Well it's not another 14 pounds but I did lose some more weight. 3.2 pounds for last week. 17.4 total.in 2 weeks. I'm not complaining. I'm just going to continue doing what I'm doing and I know that it has worked before and it will work again. If I stop believing is when I'll give up again. To me, that's not an option. I just want to get down to my target weight of 275. I have a long battle in front of me for sure, but I know what I'm capable of.

Hope all is well.