Hey Everyone,

I wanted to let everyone know and ask for prayers for Tucker.

Sometime in the night Tucker got into a bottle of Advil. He ingested approximately 60 to 80 capsules.

Judy and I were actually in Kentucky with family. Jonathan was at home though. He discovered it at about 9:00am this morning. To the best we can know it happened between Midnight and by the time Jonathan found it this morning.

Jonathan and Jennifer got him to the veterinarians office as quick as possible. They have pumped his stomach. They have injected “charcoal” into him and begun heavy amounts of IV fluids plus other medicines for different things.

Judy and I made it home around 2:30ish. Making a 6 to 7 hour trip in four and half hours. They would not let me see him because he is on IV’s and they need him to remain calm and they are afraid seeing me would get him to excited and upset to see me leave. It will be tomorrow sometime before they will allow me to see him.

The big fears are kidney damage and liver damage. It will be at least Tuesday before we know if he will live or not.

Tribute to Trent

Late last night (July 6) Judy and I walked out in the front of the house to check on some new flowers we planted. I went to go to my car to get some watermelon I had bought earlier in the day.

I looked over in the yard and saw Trent lying down. I called his name and got no response. I immediately knew something was wrong and called out “what is wrong Trent” at the same time I knew he was lifeless.

We are unsure what happened but Trent did in fact die last night. Our best guess is he was bitten by a snake. There was a small place on his leg and he was very wet like he might have been in the creek.

Trixie was Trent’s mother and he was born beside my bed one night while I slept. I recall waking up and she was having them right beside the bed. I moved them to a closet where she nurtured all of the kittens. I recall falling in love with Trent and hoping no one picked him. They wanted to but I held on.

Trixie was a great mother to him. Until his death Trixie would still treat him as her son. It was amazing to watch her bath him like he was still a kitten. She would sit back and allow Trent to eat first. They would often sleep together hugged up to one another.

In the middle of the night I guess it was around midnight my mom and Jennifer came over to be with me. Jonathan came home early from his evening and dug the grave alongside the creek. A all to recent site over the past year. He now rest next to Marshall and Dancer. This morning like always Marshall Lawn Care came and fixed up the grave for us.

Trent was more than 15 years old and lived a very “catful” life. I always told people he would eat a human if he could get his mouth opened wide enough.

Trent was truly all cat. He loved to hunt. Which was something I really didn’t like about him but it was just his natural instinct. I recall the time I came home from a late night horror movie. I walked in the front door and was shocked to see blood all over the kitchen floor. My hands trembled as I walked in only to find a nice bunny rabbit had become Trent’s latest meal.

I recall one night sitting in my office working. I heard Trent in the kitchen eating which was odd because it was so loud. I remember vividly thinking he must be hungry! After a few minutes he was still eating. So I got up and looked out the door and there sat Trent watching a possum eat his Meow Mix! I didn’t know what to do. I had no clue if a possum would attack or what to expect. So I called Dad. He laughed while I ran and jumped on the desk chair. While on the phone the possum finished eating and he came towards me down the hall way and back. I watched in amazement as he and Trent then simply walked out the door and off into the night. To the day I die I will believe that Trent and that possum were friends and played with each other.

I can also never forget the first time he brought in a dead animal at Judy’s house. For me it was nothing new but you can imagine what Judy and Jonathan thought! There were squirrel's and chipmunks and lots of birds. A mouse or two here and there.

But I also remember how he would cuddle up with me at bed time. How he was always loving and loyal.

Yes cats have attitudes and Trent was no different he had an attitude of love for me and an attitude to live life to the fullest which he certainly did.

Update

Hello All,

It’s been a long time since an update. However if you take a look to your right you will see my weight loss ticker has continued to rise. Now at 65 pounds lost.

So where do I begin. We went to Vegas last week and I lost weight! I saw some friends with Domino’s who had not seen me since surgery and the response was all good. Judy and Kalon came with me and we had a lot of fun. It’s amazing how much there is to do for families in Vegas.

One day Dennis and Judy saw me but didn’t recognize me. I don’t see that much weight loss but hey if others do then great!

I have been extremely busy getting ready for Jonathan’s graduation party which was this past Friday. We did a major landscaping remodel. It took over a month to complete but the results are fantastic. I know you aren’t supposed to brag on your own stuff but it truly does look great. Judy started out just wanting a nicer entrance up her walk way. She got that and a whole lot more. We did the backyard a couple years ago for Jennifer’s wedding. Now the front and back flow together. It was done so that Jonathan would have some great memories of this time in his life.

This week brought tragedy though. Dance Judy’s little dog of 15 years suddenly died on Thursday. It was tragic and hard for the entire family. Dancer was a special dog to them and to many foster children over the years. We buried her along the creek bank next to Marshall. Mom bought a special marker and together we placed it Friday.

So on the weight loss. I eat high protein. I don’t even want other stuff. Yesterday however I didn’t do so good. Brian’s (Judy’s Ex) mother made Jon a cake for graduation. I didn’t eat any at the party but yesterday I eat 3 pieces! She makes a great cake. I am also still having problems with crackers.

Haven’t started walking yet. But getting ready for the party I have been moving a ton. So that helps. Sleeping is very odd. I am not and have never been a morning person…until now. I am up most days by 7am. Sometimes earlier.

Judy and Mom and me are going to Michigan sometime after than to see my Dads mom.

So life goes on and hopefully I will continue on my weight loss journey and arrive at my goal weight by Christmas.

Coming out of turn one...

Coming out of the weekend I am 1 pound shy of 60 pounds lost!

Actually it is 8tenths of a pound but who is keeping track? Hehe

I am getting nervous about Vegas. I hope people can see the progress the scale is showing. I still have a long way to go but I also know I have come a long way already.

Before surgery I couldn’t even think about being 50 or 60 pounds down. At the time it seemed impossible. Like I have said before if you haven’t fought weight before you probably can’t truly grasp the struggle it is.

Those who have known me a long time join me still today in thinking who would have thought I would ever have this issue. It was not long ago that I had a weight issue but it was on the side of I needed to gain weight!

My mom is losing weight too. Brenda was down for a week and was keeping her busy and she lost a good bit last week.

Well I better get off the computer and get some morning house work done. It was a long weekend. But I had a special visit in the middle of the night (thank you) and I am ready to face the world.

We are doing a complete makeover of our landscaping and I hope they can get to work today. We have had so much rain that it might be too muddy. Also Kalon’s class is coming for a tour of Domino’s today. That is always fun.

I will be 60 Soon!

Haven’t updated in a long time. It is so odd…before I sat on the computer day and night not really doing anything.

Now I am not in the house or office much I am out living and making my company stronger! And it feels great!!

So while some have chastised me for not much updating I hope you understand and appreciate it is because my old life is coming back and I just don’t want nor have much time for sitting around.

We are getting ready to head to Vegas soon. We have a Domino’s World Wide Rally. Speaking of Domino’s have you tried the new BreadBowl Pasta!!?? It is incredible!!

Anyway I plan on an update to my measurements soon. If you look to your right you will see that I am up to 57 pounds lost! I can’t wait to hit 60…will this be the week? We will see.

See you soon! Hopefully you will see less of “me”!

Half a Century!

Well its been a while since I updated. I just been so busy and really not doing good on the weight loss. But as you can see to the right I am now down 50 pounds.

It could be so much more though. I still have not gotten to the exercising nor am I dieting. So I guess that’s darn good for doing nothing. i have a couple other issues holding me back. One is eating crackers! I can’t stop eating them. I was never like this before. I think though it is the “bread” I am after and the carbs.

The other issue oddly enough is I don’t think I am eating enough. I forget to eat. Tuesday was my first day to be able to eat anything. I had some of a chicken breast and it was real tasty. But then never ate anything else other than crackers since.

Judy had surgery yesterday. She has bad sleep apnea. The surgery is a hard one and causes a lot of pain after. But Judy is having little problems. But we are keeping her drugged up and so she is sleeping it away. She was suppose to stay in the hospital but was doing so well they let her go home just a few hours later.

Talk to you soon!

WOW 2!

So yesterday I weighed myself which normally only happens on Tuesday’s. For you ignorant skinny folks when trying to lose weight you generally don’t want to weigh yourself often. Most people will weekly or bi weekly. I use to try to wait a month. The reason is your weight can fluctuate up and down daily. When fat and trying really hard it is very discouraging to look at your weight and either see a gain or just a slight loss.

If you haven’t had to battle weight then you can’t imagine how incredibly difficult it is. Then at my level where I have a serious addiction it becomes life consuming. It is like food devourers me not so much that I devour it. The weight is more than my body. The weight over hangs my whole life crushing it until the point when life is no longer what it once was or should be. Being overweight is not what God has planned for any of us.

So anyway yesterday I weighed and was down a good little number for just 2 days. I suspected it was a fluke. Scared that it was I went ahead and weighed again this morning fully expecting to be disappointed.

To my surprise I was down even more! So this week I am now down 3.6 pounds! Since it held and even lost more for 2 days I am counting it!

This brings me to 46 pounds lost so far. Wouldn’t it be awesome to break 50 pounds this week!

O if you missed it below is a post from yesterday.

WOW!

So it has been only weekly to update but I had to share tonight.

We were waiting to get my haircut and I was talking to someone. I without thinking crossed my legs!!

It still wasn’t that comfortable BUT I was able to hold it!

Man you know you’re getting old when this excites you!

The stylist noticed the weight loss! I just always wonder if they are just saying that.

Weight Loss Version 3.4

So I weighed again but this week it had to be a different scale. Jonathan took mine outside yesterday to weigh a stray dog we took in overnight. He left it in the front yard all night during the rain.

So in my mind I wonder if there is a difference in the scales.

But I lost 3.4 pounds this week. I know that’s good but I sure was hoping to be losing 5 to 6 pounds a week. But I am now down 42 pounds. It’s hard to believe that I got so fat that I could lose 42 pounds! And then I got so fat that even after losing 42 pounds I am STILL FAT!

But not for much longer. I was hoping to be way down by the time we go to Vegas in May because I wanted my friends to be able to see a real WOW difference. I don’t think that’s going to end up being the case though. But maybe a little.

Talk to you soon!

Weight Loss and Puppy Love

So another weigh in has come and gone. I lost almost 3 pounds this week. 2.8. For most people that would be great. I wasn’t all that thrilled. I want to get 5 pounds a week.

But 3 pounds with no exercise and not even dieting is good. I am eating a lot of carbs. I am ready to start meat and then I think I will lose more quickly. But hey I am only 1 pound from losing 40 pounds. My first goal was 50 pounds which hopefully isn’t far off.

Earlier I had a heart stopping moment. Tucker got out of his fenced in area and into our pool area. I was working at my desk. I heard some noise but didn’t think anything of it but after a few I went to look. Poor Tucker was in the pool barley hanging on to the side.

I was able to get him out without jumping in. Judy had just left for a ballgame and I almost went with her. Had I gone Tucker would have died this day. I couldn’t have handled it. Its been sad around here as we have been thinking a lot about Marshall. This gentleman we met at Auburn emailed us the other day. He is from South or North Carolina I can’t remember. When we met him he had driven all night to get his dog “Boris” there. He is a man with little means. He works part time at a veterinarian office and they helped get him enough gas money to get him to Auburn. We ended up putting him in a hotel while he was there.

But anyway he is just a sweat old man. He emailed to let us know that Boris has finished his chemo. He is worried what comes next.

I know a lot people still don’t understand and I guess they never will. I actually feel for those who can’t find the joy and love that animals bring to your life. There is a reason God created them too.

Dancing with a Fat Man?

So today was weigh in day. It wasn’t a good weigh in. I only lost 1 pound. While disappointing I guess at least it’s a loss.

Judy measured me and we had much better results. I have lost another overall body inches of 8 and a half.

I lost 2 more inches in my waist. I think I lost inches in every part. So that is good.

I have to drink more protein shakes and water. I also caught myself a time or two lurking in the kitchen late at night. Bad boy I am!

Mom got us hooked on Dancing with the Stars. So last night Judy is all like “lets take lessons and start dancing”. I’m like you see Steve Wozniak?...he can only get on national TV and do that because he is a billionaire! Me being just a pizza man won’t cut it!

I think it is time for me to start walking. This should help. But I sure don’t want to be walking. Exercise sucks. They aint took that part out of me.

O yea our coke contest started yesterday. This is my chance to win the chance to carry the Olympic Torch. If you live here order a 20oz!

Tuesday

Been awhile since I updated. Not a lot going on. I am eating more and more. Still amazingly small amounts. But I have this fear that come morning I am not going to have lost or at a minimum lost very little. It would sure suck to have gained!

I think my fear comes from eating and being full. But the amount it takes to be full is so little surely it won’t translate to weight gain.

I weigh in the morning. My hope is 5 pounds lost.

Tomorrow will tell. I may do my measurements too. If I have little weight loss maybe I will at least lose inches.

Blah Blah Blah

Today I really worked. I started out with the idea of going to all the stores. I ended up only making 3. I got kind of tired easily. But clearly getting better and better. Just need to start getting some more in me.

This morning I had 1 scrambled egg with cheese. Then about an hour ago I had a little mash potatoes with gravy. I will have to do better.

So anyway that's about it for the day. Had one person tell me they can tell I have lost weight. My pants were surprisingly to big!

O and this darn gout just wont go away completely. I don't know what is causing it.

Down the Hatch & Down the Fat!

I ATE! I ATE! I ATE!

I just took the last bite of 1 egg omelet with cheese! (Protein Power!)

I even got 2 sips of grape juice down. I feel good!

So far my stomach is holding out good. I feel satisfied. I don't really feel full. But that can be misleading. In the past I would have ate until the brink of being sick. So my life history tells me you cant be full on just 1 egg.

More than anything this is a mental game. I also feel good because being able to eat that much makes me feel "normal". Not like a bird atin or like an elephant eating. It isnt much but it is enough! (so far)

As you can see to your right I am now down 36 pounds! I lost 6.8 pounds last week. I have mixed emotions. I was afraid I wouldn't lose any but then I also wish I could have pulled another 10 pounds out this week. But 7 pounds in 1 week right after a 10 pound isn't to shabby.

Can't wait to start exercise walking. That should help a lot.

Time to Eat!

So tomorrow (Tuesday) I will eat soft foods or mushie as they call it.

I feel like I am going to have to force myself to eat. I just don’t really want anything. It is so odd. This feeling of being independent of food. I am afraid that once I eat something I will awaken the beast inside of me and the cravings monstor will return.

But at some point I must get back to eating. I am weak today. Every time I stand up I am dizzy. My gout and bone spurs in the same foot got real bad again last night. I took some prednisone and it has helped.

Gosh I hate to weight tomorrow. I don’t feel like I have lost anything.

For breakfast I will have a egg and cheese omelet. Cold pizza sounds better huh?

Olympics, Life and Weight Loss

Gout is improving greatly. Now having a little bit of trouble with bone spurs! These things can hurt terribly as well. So far though it is very mild. Hope it stays that way.

I will weigh again on Tuesday. I am afraid I will not see much in results. I have not been good about my protein the last 2 or 3 days. Calorie intake must be less than 200 a day. I fear my body has entered the starvation mode. It did that the other week and I only lost 1 pound.

So Domino’s along with Coca-Cola is having a contest coming up where a franchisee will have the change to carry the Olympic Torch for the 2010 Games in Canada. I spoke with my managers about this. I can’t think of anything more rewarding than to cap my weight loss and this new healthy life style change off with than having such an honor.

We are really going to focus on this. Even though winning doesn’t count on my losing weight but rather on store performance I feel it is a worthwhile goal to strive for. I think more than anything it is ceremonial in what I am trying to do.

The Olympics are about coming together across all spectrum's and uniting with one another. It’s about family and friends. It’s about life. And that is exactly what my journey is about…life.

It’s about living again. Not forgetting all the heart acks in the world or my life over the past 3 years but it is about rising above the challenges and telling the world that I am still here and I am not down and out.

What a way to shout to the world by running with the Olympic Torch raised high above me proclaiming "I am living again."

So it has been a few days since I posted. Not a lot going on.

I went to my Doctor yesterday. He liked the weight I lost. He said he could already see it in me. My blood pressure was good. My sugar was good. He did some blood work to see how my electrolytes are and nutrients. I haven't heard anything today so I assume that was all good.

Last night my gout in my big toe began to flare up. It got real bad this morning about 5am. So I am on pain killers now. If you haven't had this you don't want to. It can hurt really bad. I had it while in Mexico but it was not in the big joint and the pain was tolerable. But this time it is in the joint where the toe bends. It is unbearable.

So the most exciting news is Mom has started to the gym!!! She is walking on the treadmill right now. Judy is going with her to support her and help with watching what she eats. I can't exercise walk yet but I will as soon as I can.

I will stay at the house this weekend hoping my toe clears up. It is very warm today and this weekend. It feels like it is 70 out today!

I get to go on soft foods Tuesday!

Tale of the Tape!

So today marks exactly 1 month since I began my search for freedom from food addiction and farewell to fat.

Weight Loss Last Week 10 pounds

Total Weight Loss 29 pounds
I have lost a combined total of 16 ½”

Lead By:
Neck Loss of 1”
Chest Loss of 2”
And my Waist Loss of 7 ½”!!!
My BMI is now 39.77. Down from 44.4!

My new BMI takes me down to an Obese Class 2. Down from Class 3. This means I am no longer classified as “Morbid Obese” but just Obese.

I have a long way to go. But I have to brag on myself (Which I haven’t done in a long time. (Being proud of myself I mean.) This has been far from easy. But I am determined and with Judy, my Mom and all my family and friends I will continue to combat this and conquer it.

Thanks everyone!

Slide Show - Snow and Peanut Butter!

Check out the slide show above. These are pictures not in the movie.

You can click on any picture to see it larger. You can also stop – play – reverse. Just hover your mouse over the show.

So today I had a Peanut Butter Shake from Sonic!! Gosh dog it was sure tasty. Had 10 grams of Protein too!

Will probably just have a protein shake for super and maybe a snack of pudding later tonight.

It sowed this morning a little. Here are a couple pictures.

Infection

Got my stitches out today. I do have a little infection setting in where the drain was. Just need some antibiotics for a couple days and should knock that out.

Had another protein shake this morning. Will be eating potato soup tonight minus the potatoes. Judy also made me some banana pudding minus the banana and wafers. But still looking forward to it. Only a little more than a week away from soft foods like mash potatoes.

Well we are heading to Moms to hang out with her.

Don't forget I am on YouTube now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqxTj45benA

What you think about going with mostly video blogs rather than written?
Leave a comment and let me know.

The spelling issue would be solved! But replaced with a slight southern accent.