I feel as motivated as when I just started this. Since I'm already down 9lbs in about a week, I have to credit it to being off medication and doing some veeerry light physical therapy. I've always hated any kind of medication, especially those pain killer pills. They just don't sit right with my body and I can feel it all over. Since they make you tired, getting exercise is all but impossible.

As for exercise, I'll be doing the treadmill at about 3 mph for 1/2 hour a day for a couple weeks just to make sure my back keeps stong. The other thing I have to make sure I do is work my stomach muscles. It's a big reason my back problems keep persisting. If you have back pain and a gut, you're in the same boat as me. Do crunches during the Hawks game or something. I'll keep you all updated.

Thanks for hanging in there with me through all the "work" stoppages as far as the blog goes. I really appreciate it and will continue to keep you all up to speed as long as The Sun-Times lets me.

The people behind the scenes always want pictures, links, video to be posted to make the blog more appealing. I don't really hold with that. Either you are here or not. The goal of this is to give you a "real" person's perspective on how hard it is to keep healthy sometimes. However, with the failures come some victories. These are real victories, too and can serve as motivation.

However, I will post some links that I think are family friendly and really cool. You probably wouldn't just run into some of these. Here's the first of many:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdSkr9kRBmY&feature=related

I've had a rough last few months and maybe I'll get into that more down the road, but i'm looking forward and don't want to EVER look back. 

I also want to wish my wife Lisa a VERY Happy Birthday! I love you, honey! Her birthday was actually yesterday (3/11), but I was tied up with this project and couldn't post. We have a tradition where the birthday person gets spoiled and can do whatever they want (within reason...Kids!). You get to choose dinner, no matter the cost or destination. We picked Sanfratello's pizza here in Glenwood and had cheese cake for desert. Awesome.

I didn't really overdo it with the pizza, but I darn sure ate the heck out of that cake! Huge calories, but my wife is worth the extra time on the treadmill. I really didn't eat much the whole day so I shouldn't have racked up too many calories by the end of the day.

I'm going to change it up some though. The goal of 1 and 1/2 hours a day on the treadmill and three 5 min sessions on the ab roller is just too far out of reach right now.  The main problem is that my treadmill only allows 1 hour at a time and then "resets" itself.  This makes it to easy for me to say to myself "I'll finish up the other 1/2 hour later", and then not get to it. 

So, now I'm going to shoot for 1 hour a day on the treadmill and two sessions of the 5 min workout on the ab roller.  This is a much more realistic (and less daunting) goal.  Once I complete the 2 weeks on that schedule, I'll set the bar a little higher.

If you have any leads or opportunities, please email me at itupro@gmail.com.  Thanks!

On a more positive note, my eldest sons team won the championship in the Cal City league which is played at the old St. Andrews church.  They played St. Florian on Friday, and murdered them by 29.  I use the word murdered because the parents over there are something else and it was good to beat that team (AGAIN, as usual).  They cry about every call, make snide comments all game, and blame the ref's for their son's poor play and lack of coaching.  Usually, I just let this sort of thing go (I mean, we won, right?!?), but being as this is the last game between the teams that I'll have to watch, I figured I'd give them one last parting shot.  It has been our pleasure to shut you up the last 3 years

On Sunday they played for the championship against The Saints.  I'm still not sure what school they play for but they hung tough for 3 quarters.  We pulled away from them in the fourth by the stellar play of Brian S., Danny and Dan L, Nick and Nick G, Anthony L,, George, and my son Tristen.  Excellent game on both sides of the ball.

I say all of this not only because I'm proud of the team, but because I've been having my own battles...with the concession stand.

However, for all but one of the games, I would just get my water and sit down.  On the one occasion I did splurge some, I had 2 hot dogs at a game because this particular gym uses the kind of dogs I really like.  Not sure of the brand, and frankly, I don't want to know!

So, after all is said and done, I'm down 1lb from last week.  I was hoping for more, but I'll take it I guess.

Thanks for checking in and please, check back often.

I've cut down on the late night snacking since my last post and that seems to be making the difference as I've lost 2lbs. Really though, it could be anything (like less salt, quality of foods I'm eating, etc) but I'm betting on the snack adjustment. I've gone to bed a little hungry the last few nights, but I could have had some veggies to take the "edge" off. I didn't want to though because I've been eating tons of veggies and just don't have a taste for them at night. But that's the price we pay sometimes. I let my eating get out of control again so my body has to work itself back to where I was, and that takes time if done right. Plain and simple. Also, I'm starting a new exercise regiment where I'll do 3mph 3 times a day for 1/2 hour on the treadmill (as opposed to 3.5 mph, 1 time a day for the same time). Going to see if I can: a. Do it :) and b. how I feel after 2 weeks of this.

I'll be able to keep more regular hours now and should be able to post at least 3x's a week, if not more.

I've picked "2 weeks" as my yardstick because I've heard that's about the time it takes to form a habit. I can't imagine not dropping some lbs and getting more physically fit as long as I maitain good eating habits.

Also, the time frame coincides with my entrepreneur project i've been setting up. You can click below to see how that's going.

I have a little more time on my hands as all of the administrative work for my new company GO 4 IT Consulting is complete. The name of the company is GO (my initials) 4 (looked better than "four", and IT (Information Technology) because I'm not very clever when it comes to business naming. I can work in just about any network technology capacity, but I also fix computers, and for a song at what you'd pay at any big box store or local computer repair shop (I know, shameless plug; sorry!).

As far as the financial health of the family, it's not very good. I have put every dime we had into this whole affair. I have credit card companies calling with no way to pay them. My unemployment runs out in 2 weeks and I have a total of $2 to my name (enough to get me into my son's basketball game tomorrow!). I am most definitely putting all my eggs into one basket. I've paid for the advertising, new phone line, business cards and insurance so all I can do is wait.

I hate being on unemployment. I've never had to be on it and now it's coming up to almost 2 years raising a family of 6 on $400 a week (I was earning about $1100 a week when I was working). To say it has been a juggling act is putting it very mildly. I'm curious to know what else I could have done to stretch a dollar farther. I have had to rely on my credit cards for much our family purchases, expenses, etc and to the tune of about $20K no less. I've always been a stickler for not carrying balances and have always paid any purchases made on a credit card in no more than 2 payments (months). But when faced with no gas, food, heat, school supplies, etc, well, I had to do what needed to be done.

The greatest part is that my credit is now ruined for some time through no fault of my own. I'd pay these bills if I could and have called my card companies NUMEROUS times trying to work something out. They all say the same thing, : "I'm sorry Mr. Ortiz, but all we can accept is $XX. We know you've been a good and loyal customer but our minimum payment is based on balance, not your credit history". My response is always, "Well I'm trying, but I can't pay that amount you stated. I can, however, hang up now".

With a bad credit score, It will now be difficult to find work, which is why my wife and I made the decision to invest in owning our own business. The banks won't help us, even though everyone's tax dollars went to bail THEM out, but that's ok. I'm good at what I do, so I'm not worried. All it will take is one job, one project, and I'll start building a good reputation. I already have many positive references from people's computers I've fixed.

Anyway, I just want to say that I know many of you are in worse shape than us and that I truly am pulling for you to overcome these hard times we're in. I know it can seem overwhelming sometimes, but we have to believe we'll pull through this, and better for the experience. I know I already am. I'm not as arrogant as I once was when it came to work. I don't feel entitled anymore. What I feel is damn lucky to have the opportunity to succeed. There was another generation that appreciated the very fact that they had a job; the WWII generation. And don't we still consider that the greatest generation in U.S. history? I know I do.

I've cursed God many times the last year or so. For that I am truly sorry. I've come to realize that this mess isn't God's fault. This isn't God's problem, it's ours, and we have to find the best way through it, making sure it never happens again; always remembering that God helps those that help themselves.

Time to get on the treadmill. Have a great day!

We'll, I weighed myself this morning and I'm the exact same as I was last monday. I'm not suprised. As much as I wanted to do some work on the treadmill, I just couldn't find time. 4 kids, trying to start a business, trying to promote said business on a VERY meager income, just left me with no time. Another thing is "picking" at food late at night. I tend to do good all day, but late at night when I have a few calories "to spare", I tend to overdo it a little and have more than I should. I see how that's holding me back now.

Thanks for checking in and please feel free to leave comments (good or bad)

9.   Old clothes I had forgotten about fit me again.

8.   My kids can comfortably sit on my lap without being in an awkward "arched-back" position

7.   Increased willingness to go outside and play again

6.   More energy to play with kids, and for longer periods

5.   Can tie my shoes and clip my toenails without being out of breath 

4.   Can sit next to someone on the train and not feel like I'm crowding them

3.   More confidence in social situations

2.   Working with The Sun-Times staff, as well as Dave Grotto, the coolest dietician you'll ever know

1.  Increased sexual activity and stamina

This is a comment I received, and to S. Bobbitt, as well as the rest of you, I offer my sincerest apologies for leaving this blog for so long. Because of the recession and lack of work, I have been in the process of starting my own company. Unless you have gone thru the process, you have no idea how much time and effort goes into such a venture. However, this is no excuse; I should have kept on top of this.

As far as my weight goes...

I will be keeping up with the blog from now on, rest assurred. If anyone has any comments or concerns, please post. I'll make sure address at least one question/comment a week.

I'd also like to wish my son C.J. a very happy birthday! He turns 11 today! I love ya' buddy!

Thank you so much for keeping up and reading!

-Greg

First, I hope you all had a safe and happy Thanksgiving.  I really mean that.  I've recently been blessed with appreciation for life, and by letting my anger and worry go, I've found much more time to appreciate the little things.

I honestly can say I feel reinvigorated again and would like to drop these final 25-30lbs as much as I did the first 33lbs.  I feel good, but I know I could feel better.

I know today's entry is a little touchy-feely, but the posts will get better, and so will I.

- I turned 40 on 10/8/09

- I got down to 226 and am now back to 233 (because of birthday celebrations I'm assuming)

- The Sun-Times, and more importantly to me, Sue Ontiveros are alive and kicking after bankruptcy threatened both

- There has been absolutely no improvement in relations between myself and those who run the football program where my son plays.  This is fine. 

I'll address all 4 of these issues throughout the week. 

I hope you have been well

When we got to the back to see the seamstress, I reinterated what I had told the lady at the counter as I was holding up the pants. She looked at me with a puzzled look which I took to mean that she would not be able to take them in. She then said it looked like they needed to be taken in a good 5 or 6 inches (not 1 or 2), and verified this by measuring both me and the pants!

After the week I had last week, this was welcome news to say the least.

"Football Mom" is one of these people who has her fingers in everyone's pie and really seems to relish it. She's the Football Mom who works very hard and usually does a very good job keeping the program rolling. Without people like her, the season would be much longer and much more disorganized and usually, you'd appreciate all her efforts. This Football Mom however, needs to relax a little.

A few minutes later, FM returns with her little red folder, a pen and a face as red as an apple. As she approaches with her "don't-mess-with-me-because-I'm-FM-and-I always-get-my-way" look on her face, I say, "Come on FM, don't be all mad. I just want to ask how the numbers add up".

According to FM, EVERY parent has to work 2 games, and there are only 4 home games. There are at least 20 kids on my son's team which means she needs 40 bodies total, or 10 parents per game. Whenever I happen to mozy over to the concession stand, the most I see are 6 people in there; and that includes the guy working the grill. It's usually around 4 people total.

FM wants to hear none of it. She gets rude and defensive. She starts hurling insults. At this point, I ask her if she would come down, away from my family to discuss this because this is getting out of hand. FM wants none of that either. "I'm not going anywhere, now do you want me to pick your dates, pick your own dates, or do you want me to get Coach and have him talk to you"? For my kids sake, I quietly say "Ill talk to Coach", and she literally storms off in his direction to tell on me! Oh, the drama! I wonder if FM told her mommy, too!

Anyway, I'm assuming Coach was a too busy as I didn't hear anything from him, but I'm sure I will. Coach and FM are thick as thieves.

So now, there's no way I'll ever work the concession stand. I want to pull my weight and often do more than I'm asked for the sake of the kids. However, FM has put me in a spot where I can't work, even if I could. I mean, how would I look to my wife and kids if I just gave in after her little temper tantrum? Maybe FM got my scouting report confused with some simpleton jerk. If you try to embarass me in front of my family, that's the same as putting vinegar out to catch flies; it's not the best approach to solve the problem.

This sound bad? Well, it wasn't, at least in the end. I found out this week that my 10 year old has asthma and my cousin's 31 year old husband, who she just married a few months ago died suddenly of natural causes. I haven't been feeling very motivated lately, but thanks to FM, I'm as ready for my "challenge" as ever.

Funny how something so stupid can get the juices flowing. Thanks FM. I needed not only the inspiration, but the laughs as well.