Tippin’ The Scales…
Been a while, eh?
Sure has been quite busy up here, but no big deal, just small projects that have been put off for a while.
Well, I had a great day this past week. For the first time since 2002 I have tipped the scales at under 220lbs, by weighing in at 218.4 lbs. Sure, sure... I was naked and hadn't eaten lunch yet. But its been 8 years since I've been able to skip lunch and weigh myself out of the shower, and say I'm below 220. So... I suppose that says something!
Considering the fact that I weighed 248 the day I got married.
Although, I wouldn't give myself TOO much credit.. As much thanks goes to my wife & the daily walks with our dog, Sprout!
Seeing as how I had not weighed myself in over a year I was shocked to find out a month ago I was under 230lbs. Seriously, I had no idea I was cutting weight. I mean... this past year I was WAY to busy to go to the gym. I had biked a little bit in the past year, but honestly, like 8 times and probably not more than 5 miles. I was still working the same hours, at night, and WAY more shifts than I had in previous years. So what changed?
Basically to sum it up, Katie had covertly but overtly taken over my diet.
I had little to no time to go grocery shopping for myself. I have had no time to make dinner for myself. And on some days, barely enough time to make my own lunch.
When we got married, Katie had MOUNTAINS of cook books, most of which she still has stacked on the shelf in our pantry. But one day, she decided she was just going to start going through them and meticulously picking out recipes that would be not only healthy but also tasty.
And thats really what it boiled down to, cooking healthy. Something I think we all could do a little bit more of. Granted, not all the dishes have been fantastic, but for the most part they all surprisingly tasted really good. Most of the time you wouldn't have been able to tell that they were "health food."
On some occasions, her and I would eat a dinner for 4 (on some days 6, OOPS), but because it was overall a much healthier eating style we didn't feel the pain.
It was not just the cooking though... Katie also started to cut out all my fall back, work muchie, junk food. Well, not like a tyrant. But she started to buy baked chips, and low fat salad dressing, and 2% milk (FML... I know), low fat cottage cheese, and more.
You seriously don't think about it, but over time, all of those itty bitty little calories just add up and add up.
I mean, seriously. When I stepped on that scale a month ago I was SHOCKED! Because I was in no way, shape, or form trying to lose weight. It just happened.
So that got me thinking. What if I had been thinking about trying to lose weight? What if I was literally TRYING to shed those pounds, and watching the scale on a daily basis..? Or sitting there and hating this low fat food, while the pounds were barely shedding, and hating my life. I mean, this isn't the first time I had gone on a diet, and isn't the first time I lost this weight.
It's all a frame of mind.
Ya know, I have had periods of time in my life where I have been MORE thin but I've always been kind of been a bigger guy. No problem, I actually like it - nice in the dead of winter, and those 27 below nights (like last night).
But I think all too often the american mindset is "The Quick Fix".
My epiphany was that I realized it has taken me a life time to gain this weight, so why should I feel that I can lose it in just a few months? Or even weeks for that matter?
God forbid I try an alternative diet which promises to shed pounds over weeks, or guarantee results in just 48 hours. Not to mention all the "cleansers" out there, I'm shaking my head just thinking about it. Imagine what all those crash diets and concoctions are actually doing to your body? No wonder people gain all the weight back.
So from now on, that is how I am thinking about it from now on:
It took me years to put it on, its going to take me years to take it off.
I feel that having that mindset keeps you in the diet game longer, and would prevent falling off the wagon, and ultimately rebound weight gain. No one is saying you should settle for mediocracy. But if we all just focus on the fact that these things take time, we will be much happier in the long run. Once you get your mind over that hurdle of quick weight loss, you can do it. Shit, I didn't even try, and it happened. And we all know how I motivated I get about food.
So now that I am 30lbs lighter, I've decided to go back to the gym and see what will happen when I add a bit of exercise to the regimen. Mainly just cardio work, improving flexibility of my hips/knees/back, and some strengthening exercises for my lower back (yup, all that weight gain came with its side effects).Probably after a few months or so, I'll reintroduce some weight training but for now I'm happy improving the small things - areas that need improvement.
And yet again, I started going to the gym three times per week as of January 3rd, and would bike for 30 minutes. I've gone from 6 miles to 10 miles in that period of time - So, not bad again..
But ya know, I am not looking for any results, I am just continuing down this path of a better lifestyle to not only improve my well being but also be able to do more outdoor activities with my wife and dog without feeling winded, having painful knees, or sore feet.
So for those of you that may be trying to shed a few pounds, made some new year's resolutions, want to eat healthier or be more active. Aim for attainable goals, stay on the path, and stop worrying about it. You'll get there.
January 29th, 2010 - 06:10
Thank you Carlo for the inspiration. Dad has trimmed down and I’m on my way. Walking the halls each day, 1.5 miles, and trying to say no between the hours of 2:30 and 5:00pm. Dad said he did it because he was watching what he ate. I said, “Wow, I think I’ll start watching what you eat also!” hahahahah. Love ya Ma
January 29th, 2010 - 07:59
good job, carlo! it’s a slow and steady process. keep it up! isn’t it nice to have a wife that cooks healthy meals for you? my husband better be saying the same thing!