MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY: PART II

A hundred and five days have passed since I decided to embark upon my weight loss journey, and as promised and threatened, here are the results as of today, with some backstory thrown in for context.

Sunday, June 13 (start): 207.5 lbs
Thursday, August 3: 196.7 lbs
Tuesday, September 26 (today): 192.6 lbs

I have also recorded a 2.2% drop in BMI, a 2% loss in body fat, a substantive increase in body water (much needed), and increased a full percentage point of skeletal muscle mass. I have also decreased by 100 calories per day my basal metabolic rate (BMR), i.e. the amount of calories my body needs to perform basic functions.

On the other hand, the losses of the last seven weeks have been very small in comparison with the losses of the first eight. I lost ten pounds in two months, but in the last two have dropped merely four. This was not unexpected and was only slightly discouraging. Whenever I lose weight, it usually begins easily enough (the very worst of the extra flab is not difficult to dismiss), but then deteriorates into a series of siege-like battles with what I call "set points" -- the points at which my body naturally digs in its heels and refuses to lose any more weight. Overcoming these set points is always a battle: I first discovered this fact in 1987 or so, when I lost weight for the first time. Destroying a set point usually means a free-fall in weight of anywhere from 5 - 10 lbs before another set point sets up shop and the fight starts all over again. Sooner or later I reach the desired set point and this becomes my new normal. It is impossible to predict with any certainty, but I expect by year's end I should have at least passed comfortably into the high 180s range. My final objective is 183 lbs. Once I've reached and sustained that for a time, I will begin the process of trying to add muscle -- an entirely different mountain to climb. In the mean time, the battle goes on.

I covered the methods I used in in Part I a few months back, so I won't repeat myself here except to say that I stuck to very simple principles:

1. Eat more protein (a hand-sized portion with every meal)
2. Drink more water (ideally 70+ ounces per day)
3. Check in periodically with my weight-loss LPN for advice
4. Weigh myself regularly but don't pay attention to daily results, only trends
5. Try to get an hour's exercise (walking is fine) just about every day.

And that's really it. The essentials anyway. I am recording all this here because frankly, reading being a sedentary pastime (like writing), it's easy to gather up a double chin or two while snacking your way through some Tolstoy or Rowling or King, and with all the conflicting noise on the internet it's often impossible to get at the simple truths we need to motivate ourselves to lead better, happier, more fulfilled, and healthier lives. I have found it a lot harder to be depressed, angry or apathetic when I have clear-cut goals and am working toward them diligently and seeing results; also, when I hold myself accountable to others, and share what I learn with them. And this applies to both writing novels and losing weight. Another reason I harbor is that I am now 51 years old, and extremely curious about what sort of shape I can achieve sans steroids, surgery, HGH, TRT, etc., etc. Middle age is a bizarre time in life, when one is demonstratably no longer young and yet at the same time possesses many of the qualities of youth, and as I explore it, I am also eager to test its limits -- and if possible, break them.

It is now just about the end of September. I plan on checking in with you again around Christmas. I say this hopefully in that I will have a gift to bring to you, and to myself: a slimmer, fitter me.