The weight loss continues

So, I'm keeping it up. I exercise almost every day, and I feel a lot better than I used to. There are still improvements I can make, but I feel great. My weight fluctuated  a lot this week, but the most accurate (not the lowest) estimate of my weight was 317.2.  I was as high as 322.2 and as low as 312.8 (on a different scale after a workout). It's not an insane amount of weight to lose, but it's slowly coming off.

I've continued to use the MI techniques. I try to rate my behaviors every day and stay in the positive. In the future, I'll have to place more negative value on drinking pop. I want to quit it entirely, but I've cut down significantly. So, I'm not terribly concerned about it yet. I've amped up my fruit and vegetable consumption to roughly 4-5 a day. Some days, I still do poorly, but this has also improved significantly.

Today, I had another highlight. I went to work out at a local fitness place, and I ran on the treadmill. What I've usually been doing is going for half an hour and often covering a little over two miles. Today, I didn't have half an hour, and I wanted to cover at least two miles. I walked my usual 0.15 miles and started to jog at a pace of 5.2 miles/hour. At the 0.5 mile mark, I wasn't tired, so I kept going. I eventually ran it out and did two miles at that pace. I am so proud of myself.

I've used other techniques to keep me focused on my goals such as focusing on how my weight has limited me. This hasn't worked as well as I'd hoped. It's helped to keep me going, but the two examples I was thinking of aren't as false as I thought on further examination. But, it's true that being this weight really limits my confidence. In that regard, it's still useful.

What are your weight loss stories? How did you overcome obstacles?

Lifestyle change progress

So, I'm trying to improve my health again.  The difference is this time I'm doing it differently.  Back in September, I listened to the audio book version of "Mindless Eating" by Brian Wansink Ph. D.  The book presents research highlighting how we eat without thinking.  It can be for many reasons.  We're bored, happy, sad, tricked, or simply terrible at estimation, but it's clear we mindlessly overeat.  While I don't use much of the principles presented in the book yet, I do plan on applying many of them, slowly. 

That's the point of the book and Dr. Wansink's research: little things have huge consequences over time. Consuming just ten extra calories a day can lead to a pound of weight gain in a year.  One hundred extra calories a day can lead to ten pounds gained in a year.  But, and it's a fantastic but, we can use this to our advantage.  Making one behavior can lead to ten pounds being lost in a year.  It's something fairly simple.  Quit drinking that can of pop every day.  Eat less chips, less ice cream, or don't take a second helping are just a few options.  Mine was a fairly drastic step.  I quick drinking pop almost entirely in late-September.  I consumed at least 1.5 liters a day, but 2 liters or more was not unusual.  That's about 600 calories a day, give or take.  Assuming those are excess calories, this behavior change can amount to roughly 60 pounds in a year. 

I'm probably not actually cutting out 600 calories a day, but I am losing weight.  I've lost about 7 or 8 pounds in six weeks.  There are ways that I can improve, but this is a fantastic first step.  I'll keep tracking my progress and muse about possible hypotheses.  When this experiment began, I weighed a disheartening 328 pounds.  This morning, I weighed 321.6.  It's not much difference, but it's a start. 

Always Second: A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy (A Personal Blog Post)

For a long time, I thought of myself as always being second. That statement doesn't make much sense, but it meant that no one ever put me first. I felt like my parents never did, and I always felt like I was second best when it came to women. Then, it dawned on me that I just thought of myself as second, and it became a self-fulfilling prophesy. I was second because I made myself second. I made excuses about why I couldn't do things, and it's time for that to stop. But, for that to happen, I have to acknowledge some things.

Being fat is holding me back because I let it. I used to weigh 345lbs. It's a ridiculous weight, and, now, I'm down to 325. I have to keep going, and I have to lose more weight. I feel better, and my confidence is substantially improved. It may not be a hang up for others, but it certainly is for me.

Secondly, I have to take risks. Women are going to reject me, but nothingis going to happen if I don't take that chance. While I can look back and opine about sour grapes, it's just not true. I have to rectify that. My thinking is so faulty that I think most people don't like me, but I'm not an asshole. I don't try to hurt people's feelings. It's time to accept that I'm not a bad person. I can certainly be better, but that takes work. Now, it's time for me to get to work.

Amazon Books


Amazon Kindle Store