Over the past few months I've been watching, reading, investigating and exploring options to finally... FINALLY get myself back in shape for the long haul. There is so much sensationalist bullshit out there about what you should eat, how you should exercise and all that nonsense that it's hard to distill the pure simple facts about HOW to actually achieve this.
In my journey thus far I have figured this much out...
1. There is no such thing as a "proper" diet. Mr. X say this and Dr. Q says that. It's all crap. Your diet affects you and you alone need to figure it out.
2. All that wonderful scientific information that entered your left ear and immediately exited the right during high school actually has practical applications in figuring this out. Oh yeah, and reading too. Read your labels; understand the chemistry at work.
3. Your body is a COMPLEX SYSTEM and like all complex systems it is prone to its own whims. You need to figure out how it works. When you put XYZ into your stomach then ABC should happen. When you exert X amount of effort for Y amount of time then the result is Z. Take note of this. Not even your doctors, dieticians, celebrity health "specialist" or personal trainer will have the real answers. Find your own equation.
So, here is what I've done. I've declared all out war. Do or die. Victory or death. I have identified an approach that will (hopefully, we'll see) work for me to finally get my crap in order. After calculating the amount of calories that are burned at rest for my age, physical condition and level of activity I have constructed a 1000-calorie plan with all the vitamins, minerals and proteins I will need for my current situation.
If my math is correct, I will incur at least a 2000 calorie deficit each day. This amounts to a weekly deficit of 14,000 calories, equivalient to 4 pounds of fatty body mass.
The toughest part is to keep my daily level of activity where it needs to be and my NO MEANS stray from my course of action. Historically, I have the willpower of ... well, none whatsoever. The foods I have chosen are low-calorie, VERY FILLING and have sensible levels of sodium, fat, sugars, fibers and cholestorol.
I'm in day 4 right now and I have never... EVER felt this good physically or mentally. Everything I eat and do is noted and displayed prominently. I plan out my meals for the day instead of grabbing what looks good. I have not a doubt that this will be a sustainable plan for me until I reach a point where I can drive up my physical activity and increase my intake of healthy, more energeric foods to complement a more active life style.
I will get there. Failure is not an option.
It might be time to buy a scale...
Really good blog! Just checking but did you say you are only eating 1000 cals a day? I get about 1100 until i can work my way up to a decent amount of exercise. I always heard guys should get at least 1500. One thing you should do though..although maybe you won't have a problem with this because they are filling foods that you are choosing but...when I lowered my calories I did it gradually..otherwise your body feels hungry and thinks it's not getting enough energy etc Though like you said..you know your body better than anyone...just something I wanted to make sure you took into account. I'm down to 134 now! I was 172 the xmas after me and Chris married! You are right...feels awesome to eat better doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly my point. I'm not a "guy". I'm me.
ReplyDeleteI have 100 pounds to lose before I reach a weight that I can manage through "conventional" means. I have so much stored energy it is not necessary to have any recommended amount. If you use more than you consume, whatever is stored must be used as a result. However I need to ensure I keep my levels of protein and several critical vitamins at proper levels to prevent loss of "working mass".
Hunger has not been as issue as long as I do not get bored. Boredom and mediocrity are dangerous for me in this situation :-)
Oh, and here's some irony. I find I am becoming better cook. My family's meals have not changed, just mine (they're all skinny, active and lively). However I think I can appreciate it more. The last two dinners I've prepared were amazing (so I was told).
WE'll see what happens.
I won't release any details yet until I'm totally sure about this... but unless I am imagining things, it's working :-)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! All makes sense too *thumbs up*
ReplyDeleteAfter 9 days, I'm starting to notice some oddities. Very very minor, but it includes some cramping in my muscles and what I can best describe as "general fatigue" but not intense. Going to add 200 calories to my limit this week. If I keep the level of activity up I can go as high as 1500 total without any compromise of the mathematics involved.
ReplyDeleteThe extra 200 will allow an addition of more protein into my diet. If my body has also entered some kind of metabolic "starvation" mode, the increase should draw that out. However I've only felt genuinely hungry twice.
Off to battle. HOOAH! :-)
(that's 200 calories/day added)
ReplyDeleteDay 15. I've lost more than 15 pounds. I don't feel like I'm eating like a bird and I still get to cook new things.
ReplyDeleteI hope to break the 300 mark by the end of the month. I have not been under 300 in more than 10 years.
My pants don't fit ... lol
Day 30. 20 pounds have bit the dust. Exercising more (walking 1 - 2 miles a day in one trip). Averaging 1400 calories a day (1000 - 1500). At 270 the weekend jogging will begin if Mr. Wounded Knee continues to behave.
ReplyDeleteMore than 20 pounds since this venture began. Still working at it. Averaging 4 pounds per week and keeping it off. Feeling great and now I can wear EVERYTHING I own... except my old jeans. They're too big and look funny on me now.
ReplyDeleteWill update when I hit 300. Lost some momentum due to a bit of flu and bad weather that kept me indoors a little.
300. Past 10 days have been rough with parties, events and various other activities to host. Been adjusting things to ensure I get enough protein and less fat. Daily targets are 1400 calories, 40g fat or less, 60g protein or more and 200 carbs. Have invested an average of 1 hour of exercise per day over the past two weeks.
ReplyDeleteTotal loss since my initial doctor's visit in 2010: 43, since May 4 when I started tracking this myself: 24.
This will see the last of "3"s in the leftmost digital for the rest of my days.
Just broke the 300 mark (298.4 this morning). Starting incorporating oatmeal into my daily breakfast this past week. Good stuff. What a shame I didn't appreciate it until recently.
ReplyDeleteThis diet is so easy once it's going and it's not goofy or weird. Just math and science... oh and some determination.