Archives for October 2014

Strange Desire

October 31, 2014 By franco Leave a Comment

If I would have written this yesterday on my usual day it would have been a much different posting. Yesterday’s and this weeks weigh ins have been brutal. I had gained weight. But I made sure I got all my calories in yesterday and ended up with a loss. It’s not a big one but it’s the scale going in the right direction. I lose 1 pound since last week so I guess a pound is a pound right?

I can’t even begin to write about the depression and funk I’ve been in this week without making you want to bash my head in against the wall. It’s real and it gets scary sometimes in my head. But they say that a lot of the weight loss and working out is mental and that you have to fight those demons more than going to the gym.

I know I have to increase my food intake. I have my brain wired on correctly now and I’ll see what happens this week. Get my food to where it’s got to be and go from there.

I have never wanted something so bad. I can’t believe that I have been working on something for so long. I usually would have quit on myself months ago. So here I am. 60 days till new years eve and 66 days to goal day which is officially the morning of January 6th.

This is where I am at. So close to the lightest I have been since 2007.

So that’s the scale. Let’s talk about a few Non-Scale victories. Everyone seems to love those.

I started at a size 60 belt for my size 60 pants. I had a size 52 belt that was too big this past weekend. I bought a size 46 belt and I am three holes in on that one.
My size 50 jeans are all really loose. I am hoping to use them for another month and then just jump to a 46. I have only been buying 2 pairs a jeans at once. I have a blue pair and a black pair.
Had my second personal training session this past week and was in a lot less pain the next day and although I was a little funked out about the scale, I was happy with my effort.
I already bought my outfit for NYE. It’s a little snug but I know by New Year’s eve it’s going to look awesome.
The lose it app says I am 57 days to goal. That would make me very happy.

So I’ll save you the woh is me. I will tell you that this is kicking my ass and the past week was one of the hardest. I was very down. But even with only 1 pound or so lost from last week. I am okay. It’s a marathon for sure. Not a sprint. I don’t run!

I am going to get my couch to 5K week three going this week. Change up my routine a little and see what happens.

I whip my hair back and forth. I whip my hair back and forth.

Gimme Something Good

October 23, 2014 By franco Leave a Comment

I teased a new present to myself last week. And I got one. For my 80 pounds lost present to myself. I got a new tattoo. I love it.

It’s in the healing process now so I’ll post a healed photo hopefully next week. If you click the photo, it should open to a bigger one. This tattoo has a lot of meaning. My parents, separately came to America for a better life. They met in Philadelphia not long after. Both from the same region of Calabria, Italy. I was born in Philadelphia, grew up in Philly and have an immense love for all things Philadelphia. I have always loved the LOVE PARK statue and use it for a lot of Bigg Romeo things too. So I have an arm that I am going to sleeve and it’s all music related. So I wanted to do a few things. By adding ALL YOU NEED IS ( a Beatles reference and popular phrase that many people don’t even know where it’s from it fit the music sleeve opposite my forearm from Elvis…. But if you look close you’ll see that the love is stitched into me. Love is stitched into me. My dad is a master tailor. He made me too. Full of love and sometimes too much love for the people around me that many times don’t deserve it. So in one little hour tattoo… I carry around so much love and meaning. I wanted to do something with a needle and thread but this just seems perfect. The watercolor was just me.. crazy and full of color. Shane asked me what I was going to do when I hit 100 pounds. I thought about it and you’ll just have to wait and see. It’s just a couple words though and will go on the wrist with my Grand mom’s and best friend Carl’s memorial.

Last weekend was hard. I think that it’s just easier during the week to drink my gallon of water and stay out of wawa. It’s much harder on the road with the band and feeling sluggish or that feeling of needing energy. I got a small basket of fries last Friday at the gig and of course have to hear about it from a band member… cracking jokes about my program or diet. Meanwhile he can’t do half the shit I am doing now. So that kinda bummed me out. Come Sunday on my rest day I was ravenous. So of course Monday came and it was up 2 pounds from the last weight in. This time I took control. I have been logging everything I put in my mouth. I have been getting my water down. I will get it down this weekend too if it kills me. I want to have a few drinks at Parx on Saturday night so I am going to make sure I have my gallon drank or I will not be drinking anything else. That’s going to go for any show and anything that isn’t water.

Brett turns 20 this weekend and Sunday night took everyone on the haunted train out of New Hope. It was kinda lame but I fit in the seats so that always makes me smile. If you are going to New Hope to get scared. Save your money.

I had my 2nd personal training on Tuesday morning and 2 days later my back is still screaming. There is something about getting your ass handed to you by a chick that I don’t really like. I texted her yesterday (Wednesday) to tell her my back was on fire And she texted me back. “WAHHHH”. Seriously, my back freaking hurts. But I feel great afterwards so I’ll do what I can to keep going once a week. I wish I could afford it twice a week.

So I got my water in, calories are tweaked, been lifting and walking and lost 1.5 pounds. I am at 328.5. It’s not a lot but it’s the right direction for sure. Without getting into it too much, I kinda had a life changing and traumatic experience at 326. So I am looking forward to getting to that starting point and wiping the past clean. Maybe next week!

Are We Out of the Woods?

October 16, 2014 By franco Leave a Comment

Weigh in today kidna sucked. Stayed the same this week. I am not sure I am eating too much or chances are that I am not eating enough. I am not hungry. Just not getting enough calories. And as much activity as I am doing, I don’t think it gets my heart rate to a fat burning rate. 330 isn’t shabby. Just thought that I’d be a little further along.

Tuesday I had my first personal training session. I wish I could afford that 3 times a week. Holy shit what a workout. I have been keeping up on my Couch to 5K training. Not easy for me. But it gets my legs moving.

So again. Here I am at an uncertainty. I wish I knew the formula. Shouldn’t it be a formula. Eat this much, burn this much, lose this much? I would think so anyway. But not for me apparently.

I am down 81 pounds. I am getting a little work done on my sleeve tomorrow. Adding a little something that will always remind me where I came from…. and also what we need more than anything else in the world. Something I forget sometimes. I can’t wait to show everyone. Keep your eye on my twitter.

So I am going to make a conscious effort tomorrow night at my gig to not drink alcohol at all this weekend. Eat my calories. And in the end :”Let it go where it’s supposed to”.

How I feel about Dan’s Butt shots of me.

Finally walked across the New Hope Bridge

New Northface jacket from my dad’s friend

This little guy is keeping me on my toes

Cool Hand Magazine 2002

October 13, 2014 By franco Leave a Comment

I found this story that included me back in 2002 and thought it was appropriate to share here. They pick me up on page 3.

Don’t Let Me Down

October 9, 2014 By franco Leave a Comment

Hey guess what? I’ve lost 3.7 pounds since last week. I went from 333.7 to 330.0. I figured that I would just get to it this week and tell you. Ive tried very hard to keep my carbs down. Not eat a lot a night and just keep pushing forward. I’ve worked out every day. I’ve been playing with the heart rate monitor that I bought too. I am no where near some of these people on Instagram that have 1200 calories burned in a 90 minute workout but I am burning something. I would have loved to have been at 329.9. I moved on the scale for about 30 seconds trying to trick it into helping me out but it just wouldn’t budge. The scale doesn’t lie. Your heart and your head will play tricks on you. But the scale is a fucking brutal, heart wrenching bitch. And I am not a poet.

Life is full of triggers. On Monday I had to put my beloved cat Romeo down. That’s 2 pets in 6 months if you are keeping track. When I pulled out of the vet’s driveway the first thing I thought about was Dairy Queen. I wanted to shove my face inside something that would comfort me. I didn’t. I pretty much just went home and cried like an overgrown gorilla. He was the one that always came to me. Sat with me. He hasn’t in the last few months. I really should have known something was wrong. Even though I know there was nothing that I could do really.

I am on week 2 of my couch to 5k training. If it does anything for me, it just gets my heart rate going faster than my normal walk. It definitely makes me sweat. I really admire runners. I will never be one, but I sure as hell admire them.

There are 84 days until New Years and 90 till my goal date on January 6th, 2015. As much as I feel that I am doing what I can, I know that I can do better so I will try even harder. I hired a personal trainer. Her name is Erica. Yes, I am going to get my ass handed to me by a girl. Fitness by Erica runs out of the boot camp space I go to and watching everyone over there she not only seems to be the best bang for your buck, (Hey, this stuff isn’t cheap) but seems to be someone with compassion and understanding. She also seems to want to be on team Franco and to help me get where I need to get sooner than later. She’s helped me and written things up for me without asking for anything in return and she was a good choice for me. We are going to train once a week together and then I’ll follow the program for the rest of the week. I bought a 5 pack so in my head I will get me focused for the next 5 weeks taking me close to Thanksgiving. I am a little nervous but that’s a good thing.

Two great shows this weekend. Lot’s of fun planned. I need to keep vigilant and not slide off the plan. I got this! #teamfranco

Shake It Off

October 4, 2014 By franco Leave a Comment

I am sorry that I have not written in a little while I suck quick honestly. Lately I feel like I kinda suck at life. Let me catch you up a little. Last time we were here I was just getting back into a low weight routine. My elbow has gotten stronger and stronger. I am back to pretty much doing it all. It tweeks once in awhile and I still baby it a little. But that’s all relative. I have been in the gym working out as much as I can. As I write this.. I was there 5 days this week and really wanted to go this morning but after getting in late last night I just couldn’t peel my body out of the bed in time. So insert a little late morning guilt. But the truth is, my body might need the break. I still have to run all over the stage tonight and put on a show. And if I want to lift, I can do it here at home. And I probably will this afternoon. There is a boot camp at 4pm I can go to as well.

Let’s get into the scale. Last time we were here I had gained 5 pounds. Well I got rid of that and am now at 333.7 again. The frustration has set in. As I type this, I have 88 days till new years and 27 pounds to go. There is no failing at this. I can’t. I refuse to let myself down. But how? After losing 77 pounds so far this years, how do I finish this? What have I done right? What have I done wrong and where do I go from here? I have a decent team… I think so anyway. It’s a matter of really figuring out how to get them all on the same page and pushing forward.

So what am I doing wrong diet wise? Am I burning enough calories? Am I working out too much? Am I not doing enough? Am I not eating enough calories? Am I eating too many? They say that losing weight is a mathematical equation but I suck at math apparently. And don’t know where to turn to have it figured out. I don’t really want to do the Advocare 24 day challenge. I know it will work. But I really would like to do this eating properly. Setting myself up to eat right as a lifestyle. I am just frazzled and confused.

Yes, I know where I’ve been and I am a hell of a lot better than when I started but I started this blog, and while a lot of people don’t really know what I am doing because I’ve kept the nitty gritty to the blog and Twitter… I am not going to let those that do, and myself down. Especially myself.

I’ve been stuck in the 330’s since May 21st. WTF!!!!! Seriously. Something must be wrong with me.

We’ve been on the road with the band every weekend for the last month and we are done now. So it really is time to crank this up. I say that every week and in every blog. I need to stay out of Wawa’s and convenience stores for sure. My sweet tooth is coming back and I think I have to even get rid of my coffee. I can’t drink it black and it’s hard enough. Maybe starting this Monday, I shock the body a little with no sugar, low carns and low calories for a week and see what happens. Amp my workouts a little and go from there.

I am going to share this blog with some of my #teamfranco friends and see what they have to say. 27 pounds by New Years Eve with the holiday’s coming… If I could take the 34 pounds off before it and get under 300lbs for the first time in 10 years… that would be a dream come true.

Do I have any non-scale victories to talk about? I started to use the iPhone app, Couch to 5 K to ramp up my walks and get my heart rate going, I was able to fit into compression shorts and not look like a total jackass. I still look like a jackass. Just not a total one!

So I’ll leave you with that this week. If you are out there and have an idea. Send them my way!

Feel the love,

Franco