Archives for August 2018

I’m Okay.

August 23, 2018 By franco 2 Comments

Last week I wrote a massive blog and caught everyone up with life. Lately I have been a firm believer that life happens and we just keep moving on with it. Hmmm. “Life Happens”. I think life has happened so much to me and the family lately.

I didn’t speak too much about it because it wasn’t public yet on the web and it wasn’t my story to tell, but we lost a close friend last week, my friend Heidi. We met Heidi and her family through the UGH soccer club. Johnny Mac called me on the way home from rehearsal last week because he knew we were close and didn’t want me to see it on the internet first. When I hung up the phone with him. I called Amber and woke her up because I needed to drive home without losing it. But when I told her I was almost home she texted me that she was crying and torn up and I sat in my driveway trying to pull myself together. I tossed and turned all night and got up and went to the gym because I could hear Heidi telling me to suck it up and get what I had to do done. My heart wasn’t in it and two or three times on the way home the tears just started flowing. Heidi was 11 years older than me. Brandon and her son Andrew played soccer together and ever since they’d been a part of the family. In the late high school years/early college years the boys went to have Thanksgiving with their dads family, Heidi heard Amber and I joking about eating a gobbler from WAWA and she wasn’t having that. 20 plus people already invading her house and she would not take no for an answer, and we went for a few years till the boys decided they wanted to have Thanksgiving at home, then Amber and I stopped over on Easter. It didn’t matter there was always enough food, extra dark meat for her husband Andy and more side dishes than the Golden Corral.

I got to watch Heidi’s face from the stage as I sang her daughter Danielle’s first dance at her wedding this past February and I won’t get to see her dance with her son at his this coming June. There is nothing wrong with my blood family, the only thing I wish I could change is that they didn’t live so far away. I love them dearly. I am blessed to also have a family that chose to be family with me. Tomorrow morning I have to say goodbye to one of those family members. I don’t want to. I don’t understand why God needs these amazing, good, loving people so early. With Heidi, maybe he needed a cook. We still needed her for many reasons. The really good part of life was just about to start for her… kids married, grandchildren… that part of life that I find myself talking about with my wife… ok we’ll do that in a few years.. we have to do this first.. this has to happen before we can do that and in the end… we better not wait too long because you don’t know when we are going to be called home.

I definitely just said fuck it and wanted Amber to know that her 50^th was a big deal and even though Brandon’s wedding is a few days later, I went on Stubhub and bought Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets and booked a room in NYC so we don’t have to come home late and try to figure out where the hell we are, and while I really didn’t want to spend the money, I didn’t want this period of our life to go by and I didn’t want to put off little things that we want to do because of time and/or money. So I got a little guidance from my friend Mandy who just went for her birthday and a few ideas from her hubby and just said FUCK IT! It’s just money and I am not lazy and I can make more. I can’t replace a missed experience. I can’t wait till November. As I am typing this I haven’t given the present to her but I will today before I post this. (She loved it)

So I have a few more main things to talk about today but in case you are just here for the weight loss stuff, let me catch you up quickly.

Today was a good day. I am still trying to work the intermittent fasting. I get hungry sometimes but for the most part I am okay with waiting till 1pm to eat. I do not fast over the weekend, I stop when I wake up on Friday and then start again on Sunday night at 9pm. The weekend, no matter what throws my body into a weird place. I don’t know if it’s the time on my feet on the weekend or the late nights and exhaustion but the scale never seems too happy with me till later in the week. I also really fine tune and refocus myself early in the week. BUT I am making head way.

I have 7 pounds to go hit my #50lbsin2018 goal.
I have lost almost 44lbs since April 13^th
I have lost 121 pounds since I started my journey 4 ½ years ago.
Still see the same old me in the mirror.
Still just doing my best most days.

I am on week two of my big boy job and I’ve still gotten to the gym 5 days a week. Either first thing in the Am or after working I am getting it done. I am also in the process of shutting down the studio and moving out and running around like a maniac. I can still get it done. So in the end, you can get it in to if you are asking yourself that question. It’s not easy and most days right now as I am ramping up, trying to show a room full of people that I am not an idiot and that I am worth something to the team, I just want to ball up on the couch with the dogs. Get warm and toasty and sleep. That simple. I wish I could do more at this point. I think I’ve only gotten a solid cardio session 2x since I started work so I know I am going to find a balance once I hand the studio keys back. Hopefully we’ll be done most of it on Sunday.

This past weekend we got some news while on stage that one of our biggest accounts for the band was going dark for at least 4-5 months. It sucks. Totally floored me and created massive holes in our schedule that were already there lurking. That creates a ripple effect where other want to experience life and request nights off. So I used to get upset about it. I used to worry about everyone needing money and their bills. So I took a deep breath this week and said ya know what.. I’ll be fine. I can’t worry about anyone else anymore. I am okay. Praise Jesus. I can’t make everyone else around me okay. That’s on them.

So two more weeks of traveling around the coast like a complete Jackass then I have every Friday in September off. The worse Bigg Romeo fall schedule in 23 years. Guess I better really learn about this computer stuff.

I can’t wait to head to the gym tonight to blow off some steam.

Well as usual we got caught up and I wrote and wrote and wrote.

I hope that everyone is okay honestly – I pray that my friends that are hurting can find a little peace and even a little smile once in awhile.

Till we meet again.

Franco

Hungry Like the Wolf

August 17, 2018 By franco 5 Comments

Well it’s been a crazy few weeks. Vacation, starting a new job, running around like a maniac. After so many years on the road with the band – I actually hate to drive. Anytime Amber and I go anywhere she usually drives. So starting my job this week to having to drive three days in rush-hour traffic definitely took its on my body and brain.

Ugh

So I guess I should break that down in a few different ways and catch everybody up. Maybe put things in an order for my head since God knows who is reading at this point. Maybe everyone is already sick of me after 4 1/2 years. I am still here though. HA!

Vacation

Vacation started with a series of crazy. I was trying to get all my stuff for work done and taken care of before we left and anyone who knows me, while it might not look like it, I am very detail driven. I went to take a drug test and of course LabCorp lost it. Forgive me if I already talked about this but I’m still pissed off. I went and took another one and everything was fine. Fuck Labcorp! Quest for the win.

We did a lot of fun stuff during vacation. We had zero plans and ended up having a blast. We spent time with my cousin Frankie and his wife Amanda, my BFF Don Vito Corleone – Scott and Maryann, my son and his fiancée, half of the band stayed over on the final weekend and I showed them some of my favorite places in Wildwood to drink. My goddaughter Marlo and her dad came and we went to the zoo and actually saw giraffes and snow leopards. I hit the waverunners with my cousin Nick, Vito, and Amber. It was fun.

I think my favorite was just sitting on the beach for hours playing with my phone watching the water and taking in the sun. The guys in the band have been messing with me about going to the tanning salon which trust me I am ready to do because I like having a tan at this point. I am definitely a fan of sun kissed skin. God made the sun, why would he use it to kill us.

Dieting in Wildwood his hard. I can’t lie about having ice cream twice and my once a year fried Oreos with my cousin Amanda. It was nice to walk into the ice cream store to one of my old clients and one of the first kids I ever took the legit pictures for working behind the counter. She was one of the first kids that I was allowed to use her photos to build up my kids business. That is definitely something in the future that I will get back to work on. But for the most part we behaved, tried to go to bed earlier because we knew the dogs are going to wake us up at 6 AM no matter what and just let the week go where I was going to go. That is definitely something in the future that I will get back to work on.

I had messaged one of my coworkers that got me the job a few times asking if there are things I could read or watch to get me ready and All he kept saying was just enjoy yourself and be ready to work when you come in. And I was.

My shows this past weekend were fantastic with Saturday show being one of my favorites of the summer. I definitely felt like I was sprung out of the cannon and controlled that stage well for the evening. I also felt very comfortable in my skin. It didn’t hurt to be surrounded by people that I love.

We closed down the condo by 815am on Sunday and made our way back to Philadelphia. I started getting myself ready while Amber went out and checked on the pool, we did the weeks food shopping before the store got crazy and later in the afternoon Amber asked me if I wanted to go to Kohls to look for some clothes.

I don’t usually buy clothes at Kohl’s. I might be 47 years old but I do not dress like a golf dad, or an old man. And they’re big and tall section it’s full of that horrible crap. I also was not going to wear short sleeves to the office for a while so that the first impression of me was not my tattoos. So I really wanted some light weight shirts with long sleeves. Amber definitely had more patience with me then I ever have with her clothes shopping. We found 2 really nice dress shirts on sale and at least a size smaller or two that I had bought last time anywhere on Amazon. With the words slim athletic, fitted, and slim. WHAT! YAAAAASSSS!!!!

The shock and fun did not stop there. I actually bought three pair of pants for work that we’re not custom made by my father. While I’ve getting into my size 40 jeans, I opted for 42 in the dockers so That I would have a little more room in the legs but of course the waist is loose but That is what belts are for and I even got a new 38–40 belt. Amber knows how to work the Kohl’s discount for sure because I thought she’s going to kill me when the bill was over 300 and some dollars and it came down to 200. But three pairs of pants, 2 dress shirts, Two button downs to wear on stage with the band, A belt, and socks. She had three shirts in there too and still came out to 200 bucks, fuck yeah Kohl’s!

The new job.

I had to go past Reading on Monday for my first day. The second I went to Exton. I was surprised that I can work from home on Wednesday already and I’m actually working from home today, Friday. I really like my new job and the people that I work closest with. They gave me a shot knowing that I did not know anything I was doing whatsoever. I got an email from the girl that runs the Exton office today that was sent to the team to sign up and/or donate to a breast-, cancer solution 5K and September. So I said fuck it and signed up because one, it’s a good cause and two, I can’t think of any better way to meet some like-minded people at the company. The company I’m working for is very community minded.

Let’s just say that I am exhausted. But I went to the gym before work on Tuesday and I got up at 4:45 on Wednesday and went to the gym only to find out I was working from home. I got to the gym five days this week.

Post vacation weight was not the greatest, but I really think it was mostly because I was not getting my water and activity in. It took a few days back in focus to get back to where I was before hand and only 9 pounds away from my 2018 goal I have still lost 41 pounds since mid April. So we will keep trucking along – I was hoping to have this tackled by the end of August but I am now thinking will be the middle of September. Trying to fast and been taking out to lunch a few times this week was not easy either. But I made it work.

Tonight I put on the band hat for the first time after working a full week and hopefully I can rally up some energy. I get to see some people I love tomorrow at a private party in Baltimore too. Amazing people who treat me like family. So I’m going to have to bring it.

Well this has been a long one and I can’t believe that I’m getting it done this week. I used the Mac speech to text as much as possible so I’m sorry if I sound like a complete idiot on this blog. I hope everyone has an amazing weekend and I will check back in soon.

Feel the love,

Franco

On the Run

August 2, 2018 By franco 2 Comments

So this might be a long one but I am going on vacation tonight and might actually skip next weeks blog and give you all a break! So hang in there.

Over the last couple weeks my body has been shocked, probed, and quite frankly been beaten up. With my weekly scale check in today, I can look at it two ways. One, my weight is up 2 pounds from last week. Last week I dropped almost 6 pounds in a week but under major duress, a 30+ hour fast and a colonoscopy. I am still 4 pounds under my last goal, and 12 pounds from the years goal. My coach thinks I’m doing so well that he would like me to try and go all the way to 250 pounds this year. I don’t remember the last time I was ever 250 pounds. I told him that I was not opposed to the idea obviously but let’s just get one goal accomplished at a time. I could also choose the route today to beat myself up and let myself go off the rails since by 1:30 today I’ll be on my way to the shore for a 10 day vacation. But probably to my wife’s dismay, I plan on sticking to my keto lifestyle as close as possible. We both have been working way too hard this summer and with my son’s wedding in January I want to look and feel as good as I can.

Well it did happen this past weekend. At my show on Friday night, I wore my size 40 jeans. Fuck the world. Still was not super comfortable wearing a form fitting extra large T-shirt, so I opted for the 2xl basically looks like I’m wearing a potato sack. (Pictured is the form fitting shirt) But that is OK because it kept my muffin top in check.I will just keep plugging away. The other non-scale victory that I noticed was that I am definitely on the last notch of my size 42 belt. I burned through that belt in less than a month or so. That is something that makes you feel good every time you tighten that on stage and pull your pants up.

I woke up on Saturday morning and after some coffee started digging through the closet and pulled out over 15 pair of tuxedo pants and about 10 jackets. I finally found the smallest ones, and even those needed suspenders. I looked good and felt good so I decided to text my barber to see if by some freak miracle he could get me in on a Saturday and he could. Everything was falling into place. The wedding was fantastic.

Sunday I sat by the pool for a couple hours, had two Arnold Palmer spiked –
And had a burger and a hotdog and actually had the bun. That’s how I broke my fast. I was starving. Somehow I still managed to stay in ketosis when I woke up on Monday morning.

Monday was business as usual and got back into the gym and actually did legs with Amber. I did a lot of running around to get ready for the shore.

I had a meeting out in Chadds Ford at 1 PM on Tuesday. Guess what I usually do daily at 1 PM? Break my fast. So I ended up fasting till almost 4 PM well I got home. I was going to stop somewhere but traffic was starting to get bad and I just want to get home. Thought it might work out in my favor weight wise but no. Of course I walked into the meeting offers of pizza and hoagies and everything else that I had to say no to. I just didn’t want to even deal with trying to figure out the macros and sit there and pick up our food in front of people that I did not know. The meeting went great by the way in case you’re wondering. Just a long drive.

On Wednesday I manned up and call the vet for Pasquale. He hadn’t had A solid bowel movement in a few weeks of changing his litter box. Most mornings we would wake up to vomit and non digested food on the floor and for the last couple weeks has been screaming at the top of his lungs at various times of the day. For no reason. It turns out that most of the symptoms could be the signs of a stomach tumor. Even the vet did not think it was wise to spend $600 on tests to tell us when the cat was definitely uncomfortable and unhappy. The cat was pretty much with us for 16 1/2 years at this point. It’s very hard to think of a time before Pasquale was here even though I remember buying him at the pet store like it was yesterday. So Pasquale crossed the rainbow bridge Enjoying his other feline and doggy brothers and sisters. I will miss him very much. He will be the last cat that we’ve ever owned as a family.

So I wanted to talk a little bit about my thoughts on social media. I started my personal Instagram because a social media expert told me that I should break out my personal and professional stuff. In the beginning I used my photography studio Instagram as mine as well. How many stupid names was I going to have? I think my Instagram is the most honest and closest to my real life that I can get. My Snapchat is right up there. With Facebook I have so many moms and dads and brides the follow it no matter what name is on it, I feel like that is more of a business tool, no matter what. You want to on unfollow me on Facebook I could give two shits. I most likely will never know unless you start popping up as a suggested Friends again which has happened and has to be a Facebook glitch. Once you unfriend me, don’t try to friend me again because I will not accept it. You left for a reason and that is cool. I don’t take it personal. In the end I use Facebook to sell my products more than anything and I know how irritated I get when people try to sell me theirs on Facebook. That is why I have stopped inviting people to my pages and what not because I constantly get invited to so many per day that I just can’t keep up. Why anyone feels need to follow up their lalaroe or beachbody page.

But I do take some offense to do is when friends of mine unfollow my Instagram. What bothers you about my Instagram? I’ve been up and down over 4 1/2 years so chances are my success story will go in the opposite direction if you hang in there long enough. Do you not want to see me happy? I don’t get it. Sometimes people will unfollow my Instagram but remain friends with everything else. It does not work that way. If you un follow my Instagram, chances are I’m going to block you on Snapchat and unfriend you on Facebook and everywhere else. I don’t cross post very often. I keep my content separate and this fresh as possible. I have also been trying to not post as much either. But again, that is just me. I have been upfront and honest about my entire journey and in the end this is the Franco that lives in the real world. These are my struggles. If that is not something that you want to see, that is OK. But you can’t pick and choose, and lurk. This would be the profile to watch since ya know. You are my friend. But. Nope. Buhbye! (And before you ask, this is not for anyone special. It’s been on my notepad to write about for a few weeks)

As of August 1st, my photo studio is closed. Not the business, just the studio. I just can’t cover the space, insurance and everything else that goes with it. I will be cleaning it out after vacation and figure out a game plan from there. It was time for sure.

So last Wednesday, the day after my colonoscopy I had to take a drug test for a potential employer. No big deal. I don’t do drugs. I get an email at the close of business on Friday pretty much making me feel like crap because I didn’t go. Thank God I saved my paperwork. I was like HELLO! I went. You paid for it. But of course the computers messed up, they lost it, the laps dog drank it. Whatever. I was supposed to wait for word that I needed to take it again and I said Fuck it and just went and did it Monday. So last night I found out that I not only passed the drug test twice and background check but that I got the job with Core BTS as an Inside Sales Architect and I start the 13th. It was a summer long process but finally worked out for me.

Those who have been here for awhile know that I have been trying to find work that would excite me, make me happy and challenge me for a few years now. I was thinking about my goals for 2018 and had to dig through my old blogs to find them.

http://souncomfortablynumb.com/2018/01/

These are in no certain order.
* Travel to 2 places that I have never been to.
* get stronger, lean my body out and lose 50lbs in 2018
* find a job that makes me happy
* look and FEEL the best that I can at Brandon (my son’s) wedding a year from yesterday!
* Get back in the helicopter and soar about Wildwood

So a little past the midway point of the year… I don’t think the traveling is happening unless my new job send me somewhere cool. I am definitely stronger, leaner and on my way to losing 50 lbs in 2018! Job that makes me happy? Hopefully after this being on the list for the last few years it comes to fruition. I think I will look just fine at Brandon’s wedding. I will be feeling no pain either 🙂 and heading to Wildwood so maybe that helicopter ride will have to just happen! I need some new photos from the air! Looks like I might have 90% of the 2018 goals within reach this year.

One of the best things and feelings ever was being able to unsubscribe, unfollow all these job sites that I was on. Fuck you monster.com. In the end it was a friend I’ve met through the band that is my new hero. He advocated for me and opened the door for me.

Alright I have talked enough for this week. You are incredibly caught up with all things Franco this point. I have about two hours to pack and get my shit together. Yes I’m bringing my scale to the shore. Yes I’m going to have fun in moderation. But now that I got my official start date and paperwork, it is time to do a little celebrating.

Enjoy the summer. It’s slipping by us fast.

Franco