This weight control lifestyle, which I urge you to try, is worth living all by itself. Even during those weeks where I didn’t lose any weight, it was still rewarding, satisfying, fulfilling. And the cost? Keeping a food journal. Counting calories. Weighing yourself weekly. Changing your mind so you see the world like a thin person. And a certain amount of planning and cooking meals. Each meal has to be a reward, you see, so that you will be happy eating a measured portion. It’s a negotiation you should have with yourself.
Periodically, reward yourself for good progress. Every 10 pounds I lose, I get a special meal. Does that sound wrong? Some diet advice says you shouldn’t use food as a reward. I bet 85 pounds that that advice is wrong.
My food intake and calorie count
Breakfast – toasted peanut butter (200) and jelly (100) bread (140)
- 440 calories
Lunch – half an Aldi pizza (570)
- 570 calories
Dinner – 6 ounces cooked spaghetti (300); 5x Kirkland meatballs (230)
- 530 calories
Snacking – tea with half and half (80); potato chips (100); chocolate almonds (100);
- 280 calories
Total for the day: 1820 calories (limit 1800 + 500 bonus from swimming, total 2300)
Your surprising body
My body never ceases to amaze me. Last week I was sure I wouldn’t lose any weight. Part of the reason is I thought I was getting sick; that always messes up my weight. For one thing, my exercise speed was slow and my breathing was a mess that week. Many people will tell you that exercise is an essential part of losing weight and getting healthy. I kind of disagree. The weight loss forums (try Reddit) are full of people who are losing weight, in some cases 80 or 100 pounds, like me, but very few of them exercise at all. Most people don’t exercise. I do it because I like some kinds of exercise.
My recreation of choice is swimming. I have been doing it for years, but now it is an important part of my routine, twice a week. A person who was interested in dieting and exercise for health reasons would probably have more exercise in their routine. I just want to be in control of my weight! Exercise doesn’t have to be part of weight control, especially if you have to force yourself to go. As you know, I don’t like to use willpower just to live my daily life. But I don’t have to use much of willpower to go swimming, because I look forward to it.
Anyway, last week my lap times were way off – instead of 70 seconds per lap I was taking 80 seconds, and huffing and puffing all the way. Today, my lap times were back to normal and my breathing was much easier. What was going on? It’s a mystery. Let’s credit my new swimsuit. That’s right, for the first time since losing 85+ pounds I have bought a new swimsuit.
It makes sense if you think about it. Men are known to gain weight first around the middle and stomach. First on, last off. So the last 35 pounds I am trying to lose will come disproportionately from there. My weight is currently 238 pounds, and my waist size is 44. When I weighed 325 pounds, my waist size was 52″. When I weigh 205 pounds, I am guessing my waist size will be noticeably smaller. Anyway, it was time for a new suit. When I go to Florida this Christmas, I wonder if I will have to buy another one?
It was weird looking at the new suit and putting it on. I am not used to smaller clothes, so part of my brain was insisting it wouldn’t fit. And it wasn’t a perfect fit. Swimsuits, on my body, tend to be much looser in the water than when you put them on dry. So there is much retying when I am swimming laps, because they tend to want to fall off. Out of the water, even when I loosened the drawstrings, they felt a bit tight. Still, I am looking forward to them becoming a little too big, as I get smaller. How long will it take?
Guard your willpower! You may need it.
-The Doctor