Venus pulls Through Tough First Round Match At Wimbledon

Defending Wimbledon ladies singles champion Venus Williams pulled through a hard fought first round match against British woman Naomi Cavaday. I am a major Venus fan but I am also nervous whenever Venus plays I don’t know what she’s going to do? Whenever I watch Venus I must admit I worry. I wonder if Venus is mentally prepared and ready to battle? I made myself a cup of herbal tea to calm my nerves. The first set was extremely well played and Cavaday was serious.

Cavaday came out firing blasting winners and broke Venus serve to zoom to a 3-2 lead. Venus woke up held her nerve to break back for 3-3. Venus finally got the lead 4-3 she had two break points at 15-40 to go ahead 5-3 but blew her opportunities. Cavaday is very feisty and she played brilliantly she was not nervous at all against Venus. Venus started to serve better and she blasted a few serves at 125 MPH so I felt better. Once Venus got her serve going I knew she would get through this match.

Venus and Cavaday both continued to hold serve until the tiebreaker 6-6. I must admit Venus was very lucky due to Cavaday’s lack of experience she was able to pull through the first set 7-6. The ESPN 2 commentators Mary Joe Fernandez and Dick Enberg said the British media have blasted Cavaday for being overweight. I must admit Cavaday is an athlete and the British press criticism is fair. Yes Cavaday is only nineteen years old but she is also a professional athlete. Cavaday is not giving 110% commitment to tennis. Cavaday has a lot of game but she needs to get into better physical shape.

The second set was typical Venus she blasted Cavaday 6-1 in the second set due to the fact Cavaday was tired she simply wasn’t fit enough. Venus has too much firepower and too much game and she swept through the rest of the match. I think Venus played well to a certain extent but I felt she was being a bit defensive and perhaps a bit nervous. I honestly think Venus should of won the match easier but credit to Cavaday for not being afraid of Venus and believing she had a chance to win.

Of course Venus was going to win the match anyway. I am very impressed with Cavaday’s serve and groundstrokes she is clearly very talented. I think it is such a shame that Cavaday doesn’ t have the motivation to lose the weight. I know from personal experience it is tough to be overweight but I looked inside myself decided I didn’t want to be heavy anymore. I went to gym and I worked out. Losing weight is a personal choice everyone has to make for himself or herself. I feel so much better and I have more self esteem now that I lost the weight.

Also, I think Cavaday should be more motivated about the money the potential for success. Cavaday could be top fifty material maybe even higher she has serious weapons but she is the one that is blocking her own success. Cavaday for people that remember also held two match points against Martina Hingis at Wimbledon last year. I cannot believe Cavaday is still overweight. I hope someone can talk to Cavaday and help her realize if she wants to become a successful tennis player she has to be fit. Also Cavaday should think about her health she would feel a lot better too if she was fitter it would help her confidence and self esteem.

Weight Loss Update: I Lost Eleven Pounds In The Past Two Months!!!

Today I had a doctor’s appointment so I was a bit nervous. I haven’t bothered to go on the scale because I was so scared for a long time. For the longest time I have been terrified  about checking my weight because I just stand thinking about possibly gaining weight. The unknown is better for me because I can relax a bit and just workout without trying to focus on numbers.

I was stunned when my doctor told me since April 2008 I have lost eleven pounds! I was worried for no reason at all I am definitely losing weight at the same pace as earlier in the year.

I thought I had lost only between three to six pounds but I am so thrilled! My doctor also informed me that I now weight 194 pounds. I started to work out in December 2007 and now I have lost forty one pounds in six months! I am cognizant of the fact I am average height I am only five feet eleven inches tall. I have broad shoulders so although weighing 194 sounds like a lot for me that’s actually very good. I definitely much fitter now and lighter. I don’t feel tired during the afternoon and I have much more energy.

My doctor says he is proud of me for sticking with my weight loss program. I actually do feel really good. I feel like I have more self confidence and esteem. I usually have issues with my body image and self esteem but today I feel really good. I am a work in progress. There are still times when I hate myself and I refuse to look into the mirror. There are still moments when I want to destroy the mirror with my fists and smash the glass into a billion pieces. I still wish I looked perfect but I guess I just got to keep on trying. I still don’t have the rock hard abs or the perfect body.

I worked out every single day since last week Monday so today I have decided not to workout. However, tomorrow I will back on the treadmill, lifting weights, completing push ups, sit ups, and leg curls. The important thing I have to remember is just to keep it up. I also have to remember to keep on eating rice cakes, oatmeal, continue to cut down on my sugar intake, and stay away from salt. I must confess I still have a weakness for ginger ale! I love ginger ale but I also realize it is important to live a little and moderation is the key.

Any Advice On How To Lose Weight Faster?

Since I started working out in December 2007 everyone already knows I have lost over thirty pounds. Obviously I see a dramatic difference in my appearance but I am still not thrilled. I lost a lot of weight between December 2007 to April 2008 but now suddenly the weight isn’t coming off fast enough. What am I doing wrong? I read labels all the time at the supermarket.

I remember to count calories and write down everything I am eating. I recall reading a book and one of the most important aspects of weight loss is recording your food intake. Perhaps, I should stop going to restaurants? Maybe I need to return to an extremely strict diet? I also don’t eat at night anymore after 8:00pm.I don’t drink coffee I only drink tea. I do drink ginger ale maybe I need to give that up and just drink water all the time?

I have noticed since May 2008 I am only losing three pounds per month. What the hell is going on? I work out so hard I try to watch my food intake and I feel like I am stagnant. Does anyone know about any new nutrition books that I can buy? I have been thinking about laxatives do they work?

Does anyone know anything about the new fad diets or new ways to lose weight really fast? I am a bit unsatisfied. Everyone is telling me “Orville you look great” or “wow Orville you have lost a lot of weight.”

However, when I look in the mirror I only see my imperfections. I am getting better I can actually look at myself in the mirror and not want to smash the mirror into one million pieces. I can glance at my reflection and not feel like screaming at the top of my lungs. I recall late last year I hated looking in the mirror because I just wanted to cry. I even had ideas about suicidal ideation.

I simply hated my body this disgusting organism the extra flesh, the love handles, the excessive skin. I felt like vomiting when I looked in the mirror all I saw was ugliness and despair.

I feel like my face isn’t thin enough. I also don’t have rock hard abs, I don’t have the perfect body either. What is wrong with me? What am I doing wrong? I am only five feet eleven so I am average height. I also have broad shoulders as well.

I wonder what I would look like if I did weight 150 pounds again? I am currently around 205 pounds I might be little bit less because I refuse to go the scale anymore. I am so pissed off about this. Should I starve myself? Stop eating breakfast? Workout in the morning or evening? Any advice? I need help!!!

One thing I notice I don’t have that rail thin look the kind of look when I can actually see my ribs poking through my flesh. I remember ten years ago I was so skinny I weighed between 150 and 160 pounds. Now I am older and my metabolism has slowed down a bit.

I am starting to think maybe I need to go on another crash diet because I am committed to the intense exercise program I am on. Maybe I need to work out twice a day or something? I don’t know but I just want to be super skinny and really really thin. I think I am going to have to start eating rice cakes again, oatmeal, and really low calorie and low fat food. It is so hard for me to stick to a strict diet but I think this time I have to do it.

Weight Loss Update I Lost 30 Pounds In Four Months Still Not Extremely Thin

I had a doctor’s appointment last week Thursday and I learned I have lost 30 pounds in four months. The doctor says I currently weight 205 pounds. I am not sure I will ever weight 150 pounds again like ten years ago. I remember I was so young, so skinny, so rail thin, I could see my ribs poking through my skin. I also have a problem with binge eating.

Sometimes I was so depressed and sad I quietly left the house in the middle of the night and ran to the corner store. Next, I bought potato chips, chocolate bars, candy, and devoured everything because I felt empty inside about my life not because I was hungry. I wasn’t hungry I was trying to fill a void in my life with food. I soon realized I had a food addiction. Sometimes because I was lazy I didn’t bother going to the supermarket I just ordered an entire pizza and ate it. I passed out after eating the entire pizza other times I wanted to slit my wrists with shaving blades because I hated myself so much I wanted to die.

Next, I passed out waking up wishing I was dead. I hated looking in the mirror looking at my face I cried a lot about my weight. I still cry about my weight sometimes because I am still frustrated. I don’t think I am ever going to have the perfect body, the toned thin legs, the strong thighs, the rock hard abs, the big muscles, thin waist, or shiny perfect skin.

I have received a lot of complements on my body from men but sometimes I don’t believe it. First off, I question if whether the men that give me complements really like me or just want to get into my pants? I have always felt insecure about my body. I still see myself as the depressed overweight man that thinks about committing suicide.

I have broad shoulders and my upper chest, abdomen, and thighs, has slimmed down considerably. Now I am going to talk about an issue any man that has battled with weight loss can understand. My man boobs are just about gone. When I was overweight I actually had a chest yes I admit this!

I am a man of average height I am five feet eleven inches tall. I definitely feel a lot better due to the hard work. I can’t believe I have avoided fast food joints such as McDonalds, and Burger King for the past four months! I started working out on December 4th 2007 and I workout at least two to four times a week for forty to fifty minutes. Sometimes I will exercise for fifty minutes but other times I will exercise for forty minutes. There are a few times I worked out five and six times a week. The only week I didn’t workout was when I was in Jamaica earlier this year for my grandfather’s funeral.

I remember when I was twenty years old I could eat anything I desired and not gain a pound. Now I read labels and make sure I count calories all the time. I also drink lots of water. I decreased my sugar intake and try to stay away from soda drinks. The problem is the food I eat is kind of bland and boring. I eat a lot of rice cakes and drink water. When I am not home I eat whole wheat submarines because I can’t think of anything else healthy to eat. I get really scared about food I become frightened that I will gain all the weight back. I don’t want to be heavy again. The fear fuels the fire and pushes me to workout even harder.

My doctor is pleased with my weight loss and I feel good about my commitment to an intense exercise regime. However, I am still not completely satisfied. I feel like I have reached a plateau. From February 2008 to April 3rd 2008 I have only lost six pounds in the past two months! I am so pissed! I workout so hard I try to watch my diet, count calories, and I only lost six friggin pounds in the past two months! I always make sure that I don’t eat past eight in the evening.

I am much slimmer now it feels good to visit the store and pick up a size 34 or 36 men’s pair of jeans and slip it on. I definitely have more energy and I don’t feel tired or lethargic during the day. My face is much slimmer and my body is becoming more defined. I think I need to buy myself a jump rope or something or some weights? Maybe when the weather gets a little better in the Toronto area I will play tennis and start jogging. I do lift a little bit of weights after the cardiovascular exercise. Does anyone have any advice on how to lose weight really fast? I know I am on the right track but I just want to lose the weight even faster now.

Book Review: Small Changes Big Results A Twelve Week Action Plan For A Better Life

Let me tell you dear readers after a year of lying to myself about feeling tired and lacking energy I realized I had to confront my fears. During my life on this planet I have always had a love hate relationship with my body. I know how to lose weight but the struggle I have is keeping the weight off. I remember when I was young in my mid twenties a few years ago and I could eat anything I desired and not gain a pound.

I am an emotional eater when I feel depressed I eat, when I am lonely I eat, when I feel sad I eat. I definitely don’t want to be in the situation where my health is compromised. The quandary is I love food I love to eat. The problem was for the longest time I didn’t know when to stop.

I remember when I was a kid in the 1980s I used to watch Golden Girls all the time and this is when I fell in love with cheesecake. I know it sounds funny but I remember watching Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia say “I’ll get the cheesecake” . Sometimes I imagined I was sitting at the kitchen table with the Golden Girls and eating a slice of cheesecake. It was so exciting seeing the Golden Girls eat cheesecake I told myself I simply had to have some! I just love cheesecake but I also realize it can pack on the pounds. I mean does low calorie or low fat cheesecake actually exist?

I realized I not only had internal issues but also external issues. I dreaded looking in the mirror and seeing how much weight I had gained in the past year. Instead of waiting until 2008 to start exercising again I decided in early December 2007 to begin my exercise program. So for over the past month I have been working out and now I’m starting to get sick of it. One thing my friend told me on the phone the other day is that I have a tendency to give up when things get tough. It is true I realize this is one of my main weakness. I chicken out if life gets hard or if it will take a while to reach a goal.

Ever since December 4th 2007 I have been exercising at least four to six times a week. I started off working out for twenty five minutes and now I have increased the intensity to thirty five minutes on the treadmill. I also lift some weights. I have broad shoulders and I remember even when I was young I never was a thin person. I don’t know if I will reach 150 pounds I used to be that thin around ten years ago. The smallest I have ever been in the past five years was around 170 or 175 pounds. I am not a tall man in fact I am average height. I am five feet eleven inches tall so I am not a tall person.

Last month I began reading a book called “Small Changes Big Results” by Ellie Krieger. One section of the book I liked was when Krieger says to write a “dear me letter.” A “dear me letter” is a letter you write to yourself discussing the issues you have with your body image, food, and the goals you want out of life. Krieger’s opinion is that you need good mental health to balance the physical exercise.

Krieger is a dietitian and her book is very well written and also makes a lot of common sense. Krieger says to start a food and exercise diary. A food and exercise diary is really simple it can be a notepad or just a journal. You have to track your progress to see how many times you workout during the week and also the food you are eating. You can pick up and notice patterns that are either helpful or harmful. Krieger doesn’t say to stop cold turkey completely because that won’t work. All Krieger is saying is eat the right foods and cut down on the bad foods. Krieger isn’t a drill sergent and her writing is not patronizing or pretentious either.

Krieger is very realistic she says the problem people have with exercise isn’t the motivation but keeping up with the cardio workouts. I love this advice because I notice when I write down the specific days and times I have exercised that it motivates me. I am now counting calories and reading labels. I have been working out for a month and I do see progress but I am still working on reaching my goal. I definitely see a difference I have lost weight and I have a long way to go.

I don’t eat fast food anymore I also realize that too much starch and potatoes are poison. I am eating more fruits and vegetables as well. I think the struggle I have is and I know this will sound  foolish is  I didn’t know exactly what to eat? I just eat whatever I want. My metabolism has changed and now I have to modify my eating habits.  Krieger’s book makes an excellent argument that I have to learn to train myself to only eat when I am hungry and to stop when I have eaten enough food.