And a good week it was! I might actually be down to three chins.

I’m one of those people that does best when I can keep occupied. I tend to eat junk when I’m bored or just sitting around. So the trick is to stay as busy as possible to avoid the junk and make sure that I make an appointment with myself to get into the gym. (I’m very good about keeping appointments.)

It’s a little thing, but incorporated into your weekly life it makes a big difference over the course of several months.

Where has the time gone?? Vacation, relatives from out of town, unbearable heat…

I once worked with a millionaire from Australia when I lived in Los Angeles. He told me that he felt the secret to his success was getting up at 4:30 every morning.

He felt it was the only time of the day that he could devote to himself without anyone else making demands on his time: reading, working out, whatever. Not easy to do, he admitted, but so worth it in the long run.

I haven’t gone that far yet, but perhaps it’s time to set aside a little more time for myself and hunker down on my goals. After all, you really can’t help anyone else out if your own problems intrude on the rest of the day.

I did do one thing to assist me off my plateau. I cut my hair shorter.

It doesn’t do anything for my weight, but it does make my face look fatter. And that’s incentive!

Back to the gym!

Ah, the first week of the dreaded weight loss plateau. You know it’s coming when you start these things. You always hope that it stays away for a while.

So we adjust and we keep going. Balance the loss of body fat against building lean muscle, and try not to become a total slave to the scale. (Ha! Easier said then done!) Next week will tell the tale.

And thanks to the extra people who pledged this week! Remember, we are still looking for 60! If you haven’t pledged, please do so now and help out the music ministry.

Another pretty good week. I have been able to move up in the weight room a little.

A couple of people have said that they’ve noticed a drop in my weight and asked how I’m doing it.

In terms of cardio, I have been using an elliptical trainer. (I am not a fan of running, especially at my weight and having gone through two back surgeries.) I use the PodRunner interval training series that can be downloaded for free on iTunes.

Its weekly training series works out nicely for this pledge program since I am increasing my activity over the course of the 28 weeks. From what I’ve read, interval training does more for burning calories than steady state cardio exercise. And I need all the help I can get!

As of today, we have 26 pledges in the door. Thanks to everyone who has pledged!

But we’re shooting for that magic 60 so that our anonymous donor will include a new iPad into the mix for the person who comes closest to guessing how much weight I lose by November 7. So don’t be shy. Pledge what you can and join in on the fun!

The first week in the gym. (I spent Week 1 adjusting to the diet.) And I did pretty well for a fat old guy, if I do say so myself.

I was reminded of something Jack LaLanne once said about exercising and getting older—it’s not that you can’t work out as well, it takes you longer to recover. So I’ve been careful about watching the calorie intake and hydration. I have a protein shake before and after my workouts, not only for recovery, but because I’m pushing the weights around to build lean muscle. Lean muscle burns more calories.

I will tell you that I’ve had pledges so far ranging from $.50 to $5.00 per pound!! Very exciting for the music fund. So please, keep those pledges coming.

A very good last week. I readjusted the diet pretty well and this week am gearing up to hit the gym to really stoke up the metabolism. I can already feel a difference in my level of energy just from injecting more fruit and veggies into my diet.

And the pledges keep rolling in—thank you! Let’s keep moving toward getting some lucky person an iPad. Remember, we’ll throw that into the mix as soon as we get 60 pledges in the door.

I am counting backwards to the finish on November 7!

I don’t know who said it first but it’s very true.

I’m happy to see the pledges rolling in—thank you to all the folks in Florida for being the first to jump in.

Have you ever seen The Biggest Loser? What about an Episcopal Biggest Loser that benefits the music ministry at All Saints? Paul Greatbatch is offering a challenge to any old and new and future friends of All Saints in the coming months. On April 26 he weighed in under the watchful eye of Father Dan Billman, his weight measured to the tenth of a pound. The weight was written down and that paper has been hermetically sealed in a lead-lined container within the Diocesan archives and will be reopened on Sunday, November 7, when Paul will again weigh in at the coffee hour.

The challenge is simple: make your pledge on a per-pound basis.

For example, if you choose to pledge $1 per pound and Paul loses 40 lbs., you would write a check to All Saints on or about November 7 for $40 to benefit the music ministry. (It has been suggested that you pledge $1.79 a pound since that is the going price of ham! Or $5 a pound for Heavenly Ham.)

As an added incentive, if more than 60 people pledge, you’ll be eligible to win a new Apple iPad.

That’s right. If more than 60 people pledge, the person who guesses the closest number of pounds Paul loses to the tenth of a pound without going over will win one of the hottest products on the planet right now!

In the event of any ties, the matching names will be tossed in a hat and the winner pulled by a randomly chosen representative from the congregation. You need not be present to win.

You can make your pledge online at: http://www.allsaintsindy.org/stewardship/porkypledge.php.

You can set your own goals and follow along right here.

Paul loses. All Saints wins! Come join in the fun for a great cause!