The Benores in DC!

One year ago tomorrow on May 1, 2008, I decided I had been unhealthy long enough. I had reached an obscene 350 lbs. By most standards this is considered morbidly obese. After about six months, I lost 50 lbs. That put me into holiday time, so my goals changed from loss to maintenance. So from then to now I have stayed with 5 lbs of my new weight.

Recently (April 22, 2009) my church launched the Weigh Down Challenge through our wellness center. This 12 week challenge prompted me to shift away from maintenance back to weight loss. My goal for this challenge is a modest 25 lbs (or about 2 lbs a week). So with a lot of work I should be down to 277 by mid July.

In the past I did not share my actual weight but I did share by goals. After a year off loss, I feel comfortable that that 50 lbs is gone forever. My secret? Low carb, high protein. I have found that generally speaking men can do well with low carb diets while women do better with low calorie diets.

I have two weights I am tracking. My “real” weight, which I get first thing in the morning before I dress. And my “gym/doctor” weight which is taken after a full day with all my clothes on. Typically there is up to a 10 lbs difference. For the purposes of the blog, I will be sharing the “real” weight -frankly because it is what I weigh not what my clothes and I weigh. Plus it will always be less!

So wish me luck! I started officially at 302 lbs on April 22 and now I am 298 lbs … 4 lbs in a week  … only 21 more to go to hit the goal! Don’t worry, I am not stopping there … but small goals turn into big successes.

Ultimate goals? Not certain, but I am thinking 225 would feel great! That would be 125 lbs. Heck I am already 40% of the way there.

As many of you know, I am not much of a book reader. I have gone through spurts of reading for school throughout the years and occasionaly I have read for pleasure. But for those most part, the zoombie that eats my brain is television.

People learn in many different ways. Visual learners come in two varities, those who read books and those who need visual aides – such as video. Auditory learners learn best through sound, like lectures and discussions. Kinesthetic learners are “hands on” people that discover the world around them through touch. Many schools cater to one or two styles but not all three.

I learn the best through auditory means. So my favorite mediums for learning are talk radio, podcasts, and listening to lectures. When in high school, college, and seminary I would rarely need to study if the content was discussed in class.  While I learn better with auditory stuff, I express myself better through writing. I favored writing papers over tests.

I do not like to read a lot. I do some reading, but only little chunks at a time. The Bible is good for my type of reading style. I have read popular novels and non-fiction, but I have started more books then I have finished. But recently, that has all changed. Since February 2009, I have read 8 books. 4 non-fiction books and 4 fiction books. I will provide a list of books I have read below – but I must explain how I am reading all these great books.

For the past few years, I have been subscribing to free podcasts. Podcasts are downloadable audio or video content that you can listen to or view on computers, iPods/iPhones, and many other devices. Video Podcasts (or Vidcasts) I watch through my TV. Most DVRs and PS3s will allow you to stream video content through a PlayOn. PlayOn is an application that is loaded on any Windows machine. If your PS3 or DVR is connected to your home network, then you can “see” the Windows machine through PlayOn and view online content. I watch some shows (technology, entertainment) and also online Netflix rentals through this method. Audio podcasts I listen to in my car through my iPhone and an audio cable. Many of the podcasts share an advertiser called Audible.com. Enter in my new book addiction.

So what it Audible.com? Remember Books on Tape? Well Audible.com is that same concept but for the new digital age. Now you can download whole books to our MP3 player (like the iPod or iPhone). Years ago, books recorded to tape or CD were abridged – which means you get a shorter version of the book. Most books now are the whole unabridged book. The average length is about 11 hours. Which if you commute 45 mins – 1 hour a day, you could read the book in 11 to 15 days. If you workout, you could listen during the workout. I listen to books and podcasts while I drive and while I code. Sometimes, I can knock out a book while I am in the zone at work.

Audible.com has two plans – Gold and Platinum. Gold is 1 credit a month for $14.95. Platinum is 2 credits a month for $22.95. I would say 95% of books are 1 credit. If you read all your books in a given month or you don’t want to spend your credit … you also can purchase books at 30% off. For instance, I am on the Platinum plan. If a book I want is less than $11.50 per month, I will likely not use my credit. Credits I reserve for the majority of books which usually are $20-$30.  So I love “reading” books now. I get all of the same content (probably more since I now finish the books), I get to keep the books forever, and I get to read many more books for personal growth and entertainment than before. If you love to read but don’t have time or you hate to read but love to listen to stuff … check out Audible.com.

My Recent Reads (most recent first):

Boundaries — Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
Glorious Appearing (Left Behind Series Book 15) — Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
Armageddon (Left Behind Series Book 14) — Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat — John Ortberg
The Sacred Romance — Brent Curtis and John Eldredge
The Remnant (Left Behind Series Book 13) — Tim LaHaye and Jerry B.
Desecration (Left Behind Series Book 12) — Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
Integrity — Henry Cloud

The Left Behind Series I started many years ago but never finished. Thanks to Audible.com, I have now completed them!