In November, I went to the doctor and tipped the scales at 277. That's the heaviest I've been, other than a brief stint in the 280's in 1996, when the weight was considerably more likable. I'm generally healthy, but of course my skinny ass doctor says that won't last if I don't lose weight. And, while this may shock some, I don't really enjoy being a fatty.
So, I downloaded an app called Lose It! and started cutting calories. I found out some cool stuff, like a chicken salad sandwich from 7-11 has more calories than a McRib. I fairly quickly got down beneath 2k cal/day on the majority of days, and 2500 on a pretty big majority. Even my bad days were much better than before, because I was cognizant of what I was doing.
No weight loss.
Ok, let's be realistic. Despite all the thintards belaboring to the contrary, calories are not created equally. It's not simply calories in and calories out. A McRib calorie is not the same as a broccoli calorie. Got it.
Cut out fast food. Cut calories further. Start exercising (duh). Decrease diet soda intake and increase water. Totally cut alcohol and cigarettes.
Clearly, I am in this for the long term. I'm not looking to lose weight and then be unhealthy again. But, this is fucking bullshit. Today, I weighed in at 278 pounds.
I get it, ok. I am not normal. A normal person doesn't want to eat two triple cheeseburgers with a dozen donuts. But, what the fuck? If I've cut/burned an average of just 500 calories a day for the last two months over alternate life old Jim, I should have dropped a minimum of 10 pounds. Unless you're saying that if I had continued in my ways, I would have somehow gained 10 pounds in the last two months.
Ok, I was hoping for some catharsis and renewed sense of dedication, but I've been concentrating on that delicious sounding meal for the last paragraph instead. Fuck it. I'll just keep going.
By the way, I'm going to do the White Rock Marathon on December 2. I'm not going to say that I'm going to run it, because chances are more likely that I won't. But, I'm putting it out there that I am going to enter and finish it somehow.
Why wait until December? Sign up for Rock 'N' Roll Dallas Half in late March and watch how much more focused your training and nutrition becomes. Shit, you can jog 6 miles, walk the other 7 and you'll still beat thousands of other participants. And, instead of being a guy who's trying to lose weight, you'll be a half-marathoner. I could even try to keep up with you during the race just to show support. I'm trying to avoid sounding "preachy" about running, but I started experiencing significant weight loss when I stopped trying to lose weight and started trying to improve my performance. It's all related. I've tried losing weight hundreds of times. It's finally working.
ReplyDeleteHow's the mental side of it been? I noticed when I got myself to stop 'fighting' the changes, I started having consistent weight loss. I felt like one day I sorta let go and just started enjoying the experience. You're breaking an addiction; your body will fight back. Keep doing everything you're doing over an extended period of time and everything gets easier and the results follow. Be aware of every decision, be present in every moment. Sorry bro, not trying to be preachy but very excited about your weight loss efforts. Keep going!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the feedback. I even appreciate the mid-feedback apology about the feedback. I'm doing a 5k in April. I'm considering walking the half in March. But, even when I was athletic, I was never a runner.
ReplyDeleteI was never a runner either. ;)
ReplyDeleteI believe it was Yoda who said, "Do or do not; there is no try."
ReplyDeleteYeah, I tell my students never to say try.
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