Terry Farrell
Record staff
The following is our latest blog entry to our 60 in 60 challenge. For those of you who missed our October column (see bit.ly/1LqaMVq) Erica and I have embarked on a journey to lose 60 pounds (combined) in 60 weeks (combined). We have weekly online updates and monthly submissions into the Record newspaper. It’s been 10 weeks since we started.
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Terry: Well, here we are, one third of the way through our challenge.
Erica: Wait a minute. It’s only been 10 weeks.
T: Yes, but 10 weeks each, so 20 weeks total. Our goal is to lose 60 pounds in 60 weeks, total.
E: Hmmm. All of a sudden, this sounds hard.
T: Yes, well I thought it was time we de-confuse people.
E: De-confuse? A new word?
T: What can I say? I used to be a sports reporter. Sports reporters are allowed to invent words. It says so in the manual.
E: OK… anyway, Mr. Sports Reporter… what do you have to report this week?
T: Oh. A weigh-in! One third of the way through our challenge, we are at a total of 28.6 pounds lost!
E: That’s almost half our goal.
T: I think we could be at 30 had I not gone to Edmonton last week.
E: You cheated, didn’t you?
T: Oh, I more than cheated. I didn’t even bring the rule book with me! But in my defence, it’s been a year since I have been “home.” There was much visiting, and eating, and drinking to be done.
E: And you did a good job of catching up, I assume.
T: Of course. In fact, considering what I consumed last weekend, I am surprised I didn’t tip the scale in the other direction.
E: Do tell.
T: Among my indulgences was a dinner out with my mom, at her favourite rib joint. And while we did not have dessert there, there was a Dairy Queen right across the street. Mom said “oh, it’s been ages since I had a Dilly Bar…”
E: So obviously…
T: Well, when a 92-year-old woman says she wants a Dilly Bar, you buy her a Dilly Bar. And, of course, you don’t make her eat her Dilly Bar alone.
E: Of course.
T: Then there was the reunion with high school friends and former co-workers… and my brother’s rum…
E: And then you came home to a strata party.
T: Oh, that might have been the worst of all! Sandy made desserts.
E: Plural?
T: You were there. I had one of everything.
E: One?
T: OK, more than one. And then I got my brakes done. And the car shop had those peppermint Lifesavers in a basket.
E: And you couldn’t resist.
T: Hey. $400 should get you a couple of free mints.
E: Fair enough. All that and you still lost weight?
T: Yes. In fact, on the exercise front, I had a breakthrough week. I graduated to a 5 km straight run. No walking.
E: Bravo! And you’re using the stairclimber as well!
T: Yes. I climbed the equivalent of the CN Tower three times this week.
E: I have had a breakthrough week as well. I’ve found that I often want to continue working out after my 45-minute treadmill session is through. I’ve even begun to appreciate the elliptical. It was really neat going back to the Comox Valley Sports Centre this week for the first time since our first workout. We usually go to the Aquatic Centre, but on Wednesday we went to the Sports Centre and spent time in that gym. Remembering what we did that first night, back in October, and comparing it to what we did this past week was really quite satisfying. I never thought I would be able to spend more than 10 minutes on that infernal machine, but I can, and it feels much easier than it used to!
T: I told you so! But I think it’s pretty clear the second half of our weight loss target is going to be a lot tougher.
E: Yes. I was disappointed in my weight loss this week. Less than a pound each! In fact, less than a pound combined! We may have to change more of our eating habits. Really, if you consider the amount of feta we use in our salads, it’s a wonder…
T: I’m not giving up feta.
E: Just sayin…
T: OK, maybe I can ease up on it a little.
T&E: Thanks for reading, and we hope your own weight-loss journey continues to be successful. Until next week, cheers.
