By Kevin Williams, Amish365.com
Hmmm, it's May 12....can I really keep posting these weekly weigh-ins if nothing is happening? Â This has to be boring reading, like watching a baseball game that has a zero-zero score in the 12th inning. Â But I shall plow ahead with these weigh-ins for now.
With nice, warm summery weather here in southwest Ohio my exercise naturally increases.  Even just something as mundane as mowing the lawn is physical exercise that one doesn't get in January.  On Sunday we used the zoo passes our father-in-law got us and went to the Columbus Zoo (yea, of Jack Hanna fame) with my mother-in-law for Mother's Day.  Watching Aster get such a kick out of the baby tigers (kitties, she called them) and gorillas (`rillas) was worth every second.  My phone has a "pedometer" type feature on it and it shows that on Sunday I walked 6.8 mile, that's a fair haul.  Much of that 6.8 miles was spent carrying Aster.  She CAN walk, and she does sometimes...but 1)  if we went at her pace, it'd take us 3 days to traverse the zoo..so it is often quicker to carry her and 2)  she's not a big stroller fan.  That's my fault, I guess. I enjoy carrying her.  When she seems something interesting,I'm right there to enjoy it with her.  When she'sin the stroller sometimes it's tougher to interact with her. So I like carrying her and I can carry her. Everyone else seems to tire quickly, while I can carry Aster for 4, 5, 6 miles without a problem....carrying her has been my arm and upper body work-out that is for sure.  But my knee has been howling in protest at the increased mobility but I think the increased walking is what has brought my weight down this week.  The question is: can I build on this trend?  I really want to run tomorrow but I doubt I can do it, so I may just walk. At some point I'm going to have to get my knee checked.
On Monday, Aster and I went to our weekly "nature tots"  class.  It's a fun hour-long event at our local arboretum.  With a group of other similar-age kids a naturalist leads us to explore creeks and bugs and flowers.  And each hour-long class also includes a craft and a snack.  It's a fun time.
Aster doing a silly selfie with Daddy!
Okay, scroll to the end to see my weight this week! Â Can I finally stay on a downward trajectory?
JANUARY 20: 233.4
JANUARY 27: 232.6
FEBRUARY 3 : 233.6
February 10: 234.00
February 17: 232.2
February 24: 230.4
March 3: 230.00
March 10: 223.7
March 17: 226.3
March 24: 229
March 31: 231.4
April 7: 229.6
April 14: skipped
April 21: 231.00
April 28: 231.00
MAY 5: 233.00
May 12: 228.8.00
brenda
well, walking rather than running on a bummed up knee is better than running on it and having to be aced out for weeks of no activity. just think what that would do to your scales.
also, when my hsb had to try to get his blood sugar and weight under control after back surgery, his dr. had us use graph paper with one lb. attached to each line and it was quite an encouragement for him to watch the line roll down that graph. maybe you would like to try that. free printables.cpm has graphs to print off.
Kevin
Walking is great, it just takes longer than running! I like the graph paper idea!
brenda
PS really enjoy the acitvities you share with Aster. each time I see a picture I have a different opinion about which of her parents she resembles most.
Kathy Barnes
Great job on your weight loss!! Aster is getting to be a beautiful girl. She's at a fun age keep enjoying her. You are a good daddy.
God bless your family,
Kathy
Missy
I use Weight Commander to keep track of my weight. It graphs it. The program is a couple of bucks sent by check to the developer. It's helpful to see it in the long term. Also if you want to keep track of food eaten Spark People is good.
Carol
Great to hear about Daddy+Aster's activities! She is so cute!
As far as your knee, I think I've said this before, "A stitch in time saves nine". Let it go much longer and you may very well have a worse issue with which to deal. And I don't want that happening to you. Blessings to you, Rachel, and Aster! Carol
Libda
Loved Aster's pictures... she is so very cute...
good luck w/ the weight loss it is very hard, but so worth it...
Mary
I use a website called myfitnesspal.com to keep track of what I eat. You put in your weight, your goal weight, and how much you want to lose each week (keep it at less than two pounds, slow and steady is best). The website will tell you how many calories you can eat to reach your goal. Just stick with that calorie level (which is easy because you put in the food you eat each day, it calculates the calories for you). It also has a section for you to put in any exercise you do, which will offset that huge piece of pie you couldn't resist. 😀 I was amazed at how few calories walking actually burned.
hmchelen
I love the pictures of Aster. She is so cute. Liked the selfie picture of you and her. Congrats on your weight loss. Walking good exercise and I'm sure carrying Aster helps also.
lorraine
Walking is the best exercise. I have a knee problem and the doctor told me that walking is the best exercise. Walking does help the knee. I belong to Well Walkers and 10,000 steps a day is the goal. I can only do half that. Also drink plenty of water,and don't eat seconds of anything. I also quite drinking pop. Good luck,you can do it!!
Amber
Hi Kevin,
I have read some of your blog posts and appreciate you referring readers to my blog! I think you are doing a great job of trying to lose weight. I know first hand how frustrating it is when the body isn't getting the message. Especially working with injuries makes it more difficult. Of course you should still mention your weigh-ins, if anything it shows that you are still going for it! I too, can not run right now, I am healing a hip flexer that gives pain when I run. Really stinks, but there are other things to do. The walking you did was excellent! If you think carrying your daughter (whom is adorable btw) helps, do it. If she's not available get some hand weights, do bicep curls while walking. You've already proven that increasing activity from what you have been doing worked. Keep with it, good luck with the knee!
Kevin
Thanks for stopping by, Amber, I know your blog has a lot of admirers on my site..because you have had actually done/and are doing, what many of us have such difficulty with: losing and maintaining weight! Utmost admiration for your efforts, continues to keep us posted!