Let’s try another weight loss journey! What do you think about that?
This is something I have announced and tried so many times, I have long since lost count. Every time I hit a point in my body shape and weight where I am convinced I need wholesale change, I make one of these posts declaring my need for accountability and focus. Yet each and every time, I crash and burn.
Obviously, not every single weight loss journey has been a failure. Twice in the last twenty years, I have made the choice to do this with measurable success. In 2009, I lost more than 100 pounds, going from 170 lbs to 169 in less than a year. Then in 2018, I lost 65 pounds, with a starting weight of 230. Earlier this year, I made a go at this, quickly dropping 12 pounds but then got derailed by living life on an extended cruise. I never recovered the journey. Yet here I am again…
Can this time be different?
I realize that I need to do something differently for this to work. My life is mildly chaotic, as it always is. That doesn’t help. But the one good thing about the chaos is that our family is not currently in the habit of eating meals together, which gives me the freedom to eat differently, should I choose to be keto, for example. I also have my gym just the way I want it right now, complete with space for meditation and yoga. That will remove any roadblocks to the fitness component to successful weight loss. My work schedule is slower than normal for the next four weeks or so, which gives me the extra time needed to think about my choices and find time to meditate and exercise. It also helps me from overworking and becoming ravenous.
I have tried to journal before too, and I am not if this is an aid or a hindrance. I suppose I haven’t given it enough of a chance to really work. This is the first task that I give up on. Perhaps this is where I should focus my energy initially. Accountability does seem to be the aspect I miss the most.
What needs to change?
In order for this to work, I need to stop my malicious cravings. Yesterday was a perfect example of this. The day started out fine. I only had a yogurt and coffee for breakfast, which every intention of making a smart dinner choice. I knew we were having Chinese food, because my son had asked for it. While there are no “good” food choices with Chinese, my goal was to eat less. Calories matter, in my opinion, and if I could just limit how much I was eating, that would be a huge step forward. I even spoke with a close friend of mine about it, discussing how I always start the day with the best of intentions and always end up derailing. In a prophetic way, I ended up eating as much as I always do and added a bunch of candy to boot.
The result is that I am now back to where I started the year, erasing my losses from earlier. While I am not at my heaviest by a long stretch, I am nearly back to my 2018 number. And that is sad enough.
So what am I going to do? Here are my thoughts:
Keto: I have had legitimate success in the past with a ketogenic diet. There are definitely health risks with keto, but I believe they are with the overuse of unhealthy trans fats. I am plan to avoid that.
Calorie Counting: I have returned to calorie counting recently and I am doing ok with that. I need to make sure that not only my macros are where they need to be, but that I am also at enough of a calorie deficit to lose weight.
Fitness Event: I need a goal. Not just a weight number, but an event that I can see on a calendar that forces me to focus on fitness and weight loss, because I know that a difficult event without proper preparation will truly suck!
Journaling: Here we are. Day one success, am I right? I need to make this a part of every morning and evening. I feel that if I shoot for twice a day and miss one, that is still a success. This also gives me a chance to plan and a chance to reflect. Both are important.
Public Accountability: I have done this is in the past…and if you are reading this, you may have found it because of me posting it on social media. Words of encouragement help, but knowing that failure is public too also is a strong motivator.
Here is to day one!
I don’t want to make this so long that it is unreadable, so I am going to move on with my day. But I will leave you with THE image that made me freak out this week. I got the opportunity to see the new statue of Walt Disney at EPCOT. My wife and my friends and I sat next to the statue and posed for a pic and when I saw the picture later, my heart sank. This is NOT my mental image of myself. And while nearly everything in my life is good, and I not happy with myself…and that sucks.
