Fraser passes halfway mark - drops additional 6 1/2 pounds
With another six-and-a-half pounds dropped since last speaking with the Miramichi Leader, Bill Fraser seems to be well on his way to reaching his goal of losing 50 pounds.
Since starting his healthy lifestyle changes more than a month ago Fraser has dropped a total of 30 pounds, with the past two weeks having been especially significant.
Fraser is not only continuing to lose the weight, but now he’s beginning to notice an increase in his strength and overall energy.
“I’m feeling much better,” he said. “I don’t get tired now if I go up a set of stairs like I used to. I used to avoid the big steps at church (St. Michael’s Basilica), but I don’t anymore.”
In fact, Fraser said he intentionally takes the steps now, just because he can. He said he’s also increased the amount of weight he’s lifting at the gym by 15 pounds and increased the distance in miles he’s able to cover in 30 minutes on the bike from 1.5 to 2.5.
“I don’t just stay at the average speed,” he said. “I have to increase my speed to the fastest I can go for as long as I can handle, or for 30 seconds. Whichever comes first.”
While Fraser said this was all well and good, but the biggest change he’s seen is on the cross-trainer, where he’s managed to increase his speed from 2.8 to 4.2.
However, the past two weeks weren’t entirely rosey, with Fraser having a bit of a scare early last week.
Fraser said he missed his weigh-in in Miramichi last week because of the snowstorm and when he was weighed in Fredericton it showed he had gained one pound.
“I was a little bit discouraged the first week,” he said. “But it turned out good.”
However, Fraser was told the initial weight gain was likely muscle building up and when he next weighed in, his weight, once again, was down.
Having March Break off proved to be an experience on its own.
Fraser said while he didn’t go to the gym all week, he did make sure to go for a 45 minute walk every day.
He added the time off gave him the opportunity to cook for himself more often as well, which he took advantage of and tried a couple of new foods, one of which he didn’t even know existed.
“I tried Asian pears for the first time,” he said. “I didn’t even know they existed, but they’re good.”
Fraser said he’s beginning to acquire a taste for seafood, baked salmon in particular. He’s also started taking a multi-vitamin and eating three tablespoons of Salba, a natural grain full of essential nutrients, a day.
As for snacking he said he’s keeping with his plan and only eating healthy foods.
“I keep a vegetable tray in my freezer at home all the time,” he said. “I find I don’t even have any cravings for the bad foods like I used to.”
Over the next two weeks, Fraser has plans to introduce a new exercise to his routine — cross-country skiing.
