Weight A Minute
This is NOT a New Year’s Resolution.
I hate NY resolutions. You all know that.
The only reason I’m going to lose weight and get healthier again is because it’s the right thing to do. I’m 30 after all, time to quit fucking around and get down to business. Time to get rid of the gut, or at least reduce it to a mild amusement instead of a place where BBQ sauce stops. Time to feel better, fit into clothes that actually look good, and to get myself to a point where I can last at least another few decades if not a half century. My wife and son deserve a husband and a father who will be around for a long time yet. I never really thought about it till I had a son, but now I’m deeply frightened by the idea of my son not having me around. Is that my ego speaking?
The nice thing is that I have awesome motivation this time around — and that makes it sound like I’ve been around a lot, which I have, who hasn’t? — as the YMCA in Charles City is holding a “biggest loser” contest from now till the 17th of March and I joined a team of four men (my boss included) to compete in it. We’re up against one other team at CBM so there’s already a lot of goading going on and so forth.
To track my results I’m using the PC version of FitDay — FitDay.com is an online calorie tracking site that you can use for free, but they also offer a downloadable program for $20 that is supposed to be better. So the other day I ordered it, and it was definitely worth the money. Not only can you do all the functionality of the online program (counting calories) but you can track measurements (weight, sizes, etc), other nutrients, exercise, and a slew of other options as well as generating some pretty reports, graphs, and so forth for your amusement. Well worth the dough.
I weighed in at the YMCA at 289 pounds and my own scale shows 275 (yes, it’s not accurate, but at least it’s consistent). I’m looking to try to lose 3 to 3.5 pounds/week or so in the 11 or so weeks I have to do this program, but then to continue onwards after. Ultimately, the only promise and requirement I’ve made to myself is that whatever I gain I’m not allowed to gain it back. Anything else is free game — if I plateau, if I fall off the bandwagon of exercise, whatever — as long as I’m not gaining it back, I’m allowed a few slip-ups. But gaining it back means I’m falling back into the hole and I just can’t let that happen again.
So far in two days I’ve come below my calorie restriction for both times — I’m allowed 2,312 a day and I’ve hit 1,680 and 2,071. Both days I’ve done 30 minutes on the treadmill followed by lifting 15lb dumbbells (have there ever been smartbells?) in various ways and crunches, which I absolutely suck at. (13 at a time, folks — that’s my big accomplishment) All during this I’m listening to my new MP3 player (Samsung Sansa 2GB) which helps so much, I’m curious how I did it before without music. My plan right now is to do treadmill Mon-Fri for 30 minutes, weights after are optional on Tue/Thu, and the weekend I have to work out, but can be flexible as to what I end up doing because I hate getting bored. I might transition into Tae-Bo once I get my stamina back, we’ll have to see.
I’m not about to start talking about this a lot on here but I did want to write about it this time because writing it in a public forum makes it more “real” and if it holds me more accountable, so be it.
I have to be healthy and stick around — I’m my best source of amusement.
(15 comments) said:
(16 comments) said:
(19 comments) said:
(1 comments) said:
