My try to be a big loser (of pounds!)

One of the things that comes with the joy of being a family man is that there's an extra layer of challenges when it comes to eating healthy.

Menus and meals have to be selected with everybody in mind, and especially with kids, I recognize everyone can't eat turkey sausage and ground turkey and chicken breasts at almost every meal like I can. Then there's the influence of every other family member wanting to go out to eat every so often ...

The one that's hurting me this week, however, is the leftover dilemma.

Sometimes, the simplest and most obvious thoughts are the most motivational.
Yesterday, while torn between taking a much-needed nap or heading to the gym, one thought popped into my mind:

I know it's a week past New Year's Day, but it's never too late to post a resolution. And it's time for me to get to it.

Greetings, one and all. Hope you're making it through the Thanksgiving and holiday season without too much damage.

If you aren't, or even if you are and would like an additional boost, here are a couple of tidbits on fitness/weight-loss contests.

Blink an eye, and suddenly the holiday season is upon us. This is a dangerous time of year for those of us trying to lose weight or maintain. We've got the double-barrel barrage of holiday temptations and weather that encourages us to stay indoors and mope around.

It's been nearly 22 months in the making since I weighed in at 230 at the start of our "Lose to Win" contest in January 2008, but today (Oct. 22), I finally had a morning weigh-in (which I consider my "official" weigh-in) of less than 200 pounds (199.6). I'm delighted, but won't bask in glory -- time to focus on the next goal of 195.

The only thing I've done differently lately is what I'll call "puppy interval" training.

Three things to catch up on today:

1) The Ron Tomczak Annual 5K Lift & Run in Frankfort is Sunday (see details below).

2) More congrats are in order for Tinley Park's Wendy Jacob, featured here earlier this year for losing more than 100 pounds.

3) I finally weighed in at under 200 for the first time since sometime in 2004, albeit with a catch ...