mattdaddy.net

Whaaaas happening?

Written on May 17, 2013 at 4:49 pm, by mattdaddy

So i’m not ready to post pics of before and after, but I’m down about 16 lbs, feel 1000x better, and I’m about 6 weeks into completely Gluten Free/Paleo lifestyle.

Been drinking lots of water and walking as much as possible, so physically I’m feeling pretty good. Completed my 4th Mud Run, this one was the Survival Race in Riverhead, NY, which is NOT flat. (What’s up with that Long Island?) I did a lot better than last year, but not nearly as well as I would have liked. Tough Mudder is in five months and I’m not nearly ready.

Ack, it’s almost time to go, gotta pack up and get out to my parents in Long Island. My Dad is walking in graduation at Dowling College tomorrow as one of the Doctoral Candidates, now full Doctor Dr. Grandpa Tom

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Sixteen

Written on April 11, 2013 at 9:22 am, by mattdaddy

Dude. I can’t believe that this was you at one point -

This isn’t happening. I remember when you were born, I got to catch you. Mom had been in labor for 50 hours or so, but it was all worth it. You were a bit purple, but the doctors checked you out and everything was fine. We held you for the first time and it was over. I knew I’d never be the same. I can’t even begin to think what it was like from Mom’s point of view, but my life was different from that moment forward.

Aidan, you are everything I could have wanted in a son and 10x more. You’re kind, gentle, funny, and you make me proud to be your father. You have done so many things that amaze me and I know you’ll continue to do them for years to come.

I love you buddy,

Dad.

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Celiac Disease? Crap!

Written on April 8, 2013 at 9:51 am, by mattdaddy

Let me give you some background if this is your first visit. My daughter Gillian was having serious health issues in 2007. Her hair wasn’t growing, the teeth she lost weren’t growing back, her belly was distended, no energy, the works. My niece had just been diagnosed with Celiac Disease so we had her tested, and it came back positive. A month or so eating gluten free and she was back on her road to health.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease where you attack your own body, in this case, when gluten is present in your system. Some people get the runs, or constipated, or IBS(irritable bowel syndrome) or sometimes they don’t feel anything. A blood test is the first step, followed by an endoscopy to see what’s going on.

I’ve been putting on weight in the last few years, mostly due to being a lazy prat, but I wanted to change that this year so I signed up for a Mud Run in May and Tough Mudder in October. A buddy of mine was on the Paleo diet, so I decided to give it a shot. I had ready some pretty negative things about it, so to put my mind at ease, I went for a blood panel of tests to check my levels. I have hypothyroidism – my thyroid doesn’t produce enough of what it’s supposed to – and I wanted to check that, and my cholesterol, and other things. I had them throw in a celiac test as well.

A week went by and I hadn’t heard from my doctor, so I called and it turns out he was on vacation when the tests came back so they said they’d have one of the doctors check it out and call me. He called me when I was on the busride home to tell me everything looked normal, but that I was testing positive for Celiac disease.

Called and told my wife, my parents, and my siblings. Not a big shock, but still it sucks. Everything I had given up for the paleo diet had been a choice. Now, the things I loved the most were being taken away. Thankfully, it’s not 2007, and there are plenty of things in the store, and plenty of restaurants that serve gluten free stuff, so I should be good.

Still? This blows.

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Keeping it going

Written on April 3, 2013 at 9:19 pm, by mattdaddy

So, it’s been about two weeks since I started going Paleo exclusively and I have definitely been feeling better, have more energy, and just generally feeling good.

I’ve been wanting to put some exercise into the mix, especially with my first Mud Run coming up the first weekend in May.

I’ve been getting off the subway a stop early and walking from there, but it’s pretty freakin cold and windy in NYC lately, so it’s been about twice a week. Today, I got in earlier than normal, so I walked the whole way from Port Authority to my office on Madison and 60th. It’s about 1.5 miles, and I did it at a good clip. Got to work, wasn’t sweaty, wasn’t tired, felt good about the whole thing.

Froze. My. Ass. Off. Oye! The last few blocks got really freakin cold. So when I got home tonight, I decided to put some other stuff into my routine by doing some core strengthening exercise to go along with the good eating. I’m going to try to do it every other day, so we’ll see what happens. Today was day 1.

http://www.gymjunkies.com/home-workout-for-beginner/

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Annapolis

Written on April 2, 2013 at 9:07 am, by mattdaddy

Fae and I have been trying to take advantage of the reduced rates that I can get as an employee of Loews since we own a chain of hotels (And they’re nice too!) We had planned to go to Annapolis last weekend, but something came up and we had to reschedule, so Fae took the kids down on Monday and I took the train down on Wednesday morning. They picked me up in DC and we walked around for a while which was really nice, I haven’t been there in a while.

We went on a ghost tour around Annapolis and just walked around the town, really nice. We were thinking of going to the aquarium in Baltimore on our way back, but it was so packed we would have waited 2.5 hours just to get in. Btw, if you’re ever there, go. The aquarium is one of the best I’ve ever seen.

And when we got home and we were driving back from the park, we saw this.

A balloon landed on our street

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10 official days

Written on March 30, 2013 at 11:00 pm, by mattdaddy

Okay, I didn’t swallow the cool aid, well, mostly because cool aid isn’t paleo. I think the thing I’ve learned the most so far is that I was eating a lot of crap. I’ve been reading The Paleo Coach for the last week or so, and while I’m still skeptical about some of it, most of it is really making a lot of sense.

I started eating better and closer to what I needed about 2.5 weeks ago, but it’s been 10 days since I started eating paleo only, and I have come to certain conclusions:

I feel better.
My shirts fit better.
My pants fit better.
Things that I shouldn’t eat are beginning to effect me negatively.
- bread makes me really tired
- sugar is giving me an headache
- cookies just aren’t worth it anymore
My body is still craving milk, so I’m not totally on the bandwagon on that part

I’ve been munching on apples, carrots, and macadamia nuts because I’m coming to realize that I am a snacker. Going to get a head of broccoli and cut it up in a bowl and munch on that when I want to snack.

I’m curious to see what happens as I walk this path, so in order to have a baseline, I’ve gone to the doctor and had a battery of blood work done so I have something to compare to. I have to say, I’m eager to see how well I can progress, but more importantly, see how well I can keep it up.

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Making progress

Written on March 25, 2013 at 1:55 pm, by mattdaddy

Wow, am I actually updating my blog more than once in a month? And did I actually stick to something I started?

YES to both!

I’ve been slowly moving towards a totally paleo diet, or as close as I can get sometimes, for about 2 weeks, with the first day of spring as my official first real day. So it’s been about 5 days of solid, “Do I really want to eat that” behavior and I have to say, I am a little impressed. I haven’t really been looking for changes, and after starting “The Paleo Coach” book the other day, I’m not stepping on a scale either. I was in the elevator on my way up to work this morning, and I caught my reflection in the mirror and I have to say, I definitely saw a change in my face.

Don’t worry, not swallowing the cool aid or anything, I’m just pleased with the results so far. It’s more how I feel than what I look like, which is a nice change in how to look at stuff. I’ll keep you posted.

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Goodbye

Written on March 20, 2013 at 9:38 am, by mattdaddy

So my buddy has always had the best intentions of helping me get into shape and eat better and all that. I’ve been trying to be a good partner in all of it because I see how healthy he is and how much more energy he has than I do, but I always manage to self sabotage. I’ve been noticing a few things over the last few months that really lead me to this point where I really need to say goodbye.

Goodbye to overeating. Goodbye to unnecessary food. Goodbye to eating everything on my plate even though I know I’m full, but I brain wants to stuff more. Goodbye to being disappointed when my pants are tight, or the neck on my shirt won’t button up without a struggle.

I’ve been talking with my friend J, and discussing the finer points of Paleo dieting, and I can’t see any disadvantage. Yes, it cuts out all grains, and I’m a carboholic. Yeah, it cuts out all sweets, which in my case, is probably a good thing. I will occasionally slip, but I think I’m getting to know my little subconscious tricks, and how I talk myself into and out of things. Exercise is still a daunting task to conquer, but I think by eating better and walking more, I’m taking two large steps in the right direction.

So, in my quest to do this, I’m going to try to post what I’m eating as a guide and an idea of how I’m doing. I’d like to try to find a scale that I could use reliably here at work, so I’m going to look for that.

3/19 – oatmeal with pb and preserves, grape nuts mixed together. small plate of pasta and sausage from Maggianos, and a grass fed beef hamburger with guacamole between two pieces of kale.

3/20 – pink lady apple cut into quarters, almond butter spread on top. Planning on having some more pasta and sausage, mostly because I don’t want to waste food Not sure what I’m eating for dinner.

To my knowledge, still 245 with my suit and shoes on. I think I’m going to just keep that in my head and when I feel like I’ve lost something significant, then weigh myself. And to my friend Cherie – I’m increasing the amount of water I’m drinking to 64oz or more, I’ve eliminated sweets, and I’m walking more.

weightloss 2 Comments

Did it again

Written on March 19, 2013 at 4:31 pm, by mattdaddy

I started something - http://mattdaddy.net/2013/02/14/day-1/ ? and didn’t follow it up of course. Trying to motivate myself to work more and not get killed in the Mud Race I have in May and Tough Mudder I have in October. Been getting scared by friends who have done it before, and eating a lot better lately. I could use some excuse of being sick every other week, but it’s mostly being lazy.

I think the biggest wake up was going to a doctors appointment and getting weighed, and being heavier than I have ever been…EVER! (and hell NO I’m not telling you). It was a nice little kick in the ass. Been talking with friends about Weight Watchers, Whole Food Dieting, and The Paleo Diet, and have really decided to do a little of all of it.

I cut out the soda at lunch and the soda & candybar run at 2:30 or so when I’m really just needing to get out from behind my desk.
I’ve increased my water intake to more than ZERO per day. Doctor told me I should be drinking about 64 ounces of water. Holy Moley! Problem with that is I have to do it all before 3 or so, or I’ll have to pee the whole 1.5 hour ride home. No thanks!
I’m working on portion control. (see note 1)
I’m making a practice of not going into the danger cabinet – the one with all of the cookies and sweet stuff. I’m not a big ice cream fan, so that’s not a big deal. A good chocolate chip cookie will be my downfall every single time.
Trying to cut down on grains and carbs as much as possible. Paleo says to cut out milk, but I feel like that’s a little drastic right now.
Increasing veg and fruit
Trying to find a quick alternative for breakfast in the morning. I usually have oatmeal with organic PB, a little preserves, and grapenuts. Paleo talks about eggs, but I don’t have time to make em, and I don’t like hardboiled eggs.

So what do you do to stay healthy? If you have any suggestions, I’d welcome them. With the weather being totally wacky lately, I’m trying to get out for walks during lunch, but rain and freezing sleet do not help and I need to do something like yesterday. Going to a gym really an option, more because of time constraints than anything else.

And yeah, I’m up for sleeping earlier, waking earlier, and doing a bit of a workout around 5:30, but I need serious motivation for that.

Working out 1 Comment

Day 1

Written on February 14, 2013 at 10:52 pm, by mattdaddy

So, I’m a lunatic. I decided last year that I was going to do Tough Mudder. 12 miles, obstacles, hills, pain, torture, electrocution. Why am I doing this?

Anyway, I’m nervous as hell. So, I started doing something about it today. Lasted all of a total of 5 minutes, but it’s 5 more than I did yesterday, so I don’t care.

I have some pics that I took to have a before shot, and they’re just too fucking depressing to post. So we’ll see what happens. All I know is, I did more than I normally would have because Fae kept asking “What’s Next?” in a cute voice.

2 min jumping jacks
1 min burpees
1 min everest (washcloths on each foot, in a pushup position, bring knees to chest on bathroom floor)
1 min squats

Feels okay lying in bed, but my arms are kinda weak. This isn’t going to be pretty.