Hot Dog! (I prefer the turkey-cheddar variety). I've lost 6 pounds in a week and a half. Now, I'm down to 294 pounds from 300 pounds. I have no idea how I did that, however I'm very happy about that number.
My clothes are fitting better. I'm not out of breath when I bend over my fat-flab to put on my socks. It is slightly difficult for me to fathom the actual weight number that I've lost since beginning this trek. I have calculated that technically I've lost about 40 pounds since I began writing this column. Why do I say "technically"? The reason I say that is because I first weighed about 335 pounds about four to six weeks before the first column was published. That number, the big "40," puts everything into perspective.
The number "40" has another significant meaning. I will turn 40 years old in July, 2011. Aarrghhh! That is my "goal" date. It is my hope that I can lose a substantial amount of weight by that said date. Now, that doesn't mean that if I don't lose the weight by then, I would cease in what I am trying to accomplish. It just means that I hope to have lost at least 75 pounds (from now until July); whether it be a weight loss of 75 to 175 pounds (the latter is my true weight loss goal that I desire), doesn't really matter. The reality is that I just want to be healthy. Buying a whole new wardrobe is a perk.
Another perk is that my sister offered to take me on a vacation as a "congratulations reward" for my weight loss efforts. The "priceless" part is that; I hope in due time (with doctor approval, of course) I will be off blood pressure, cholesterol, etc., medication. The trickle down effect would be (hopefully) less doctor/hospital visits derived from obesity-related illnesses.
It is true ... it is very difficult to lose weight as you get older. It is difficult for women to lose weight opposed to men's metabolism for weight loss. By the way, it sucks that men can lose weight practically by flipping through the channels on television. Oh yeah, back to what I was saying before my ranting. It is possible to lose weight ... I have more health problems than the average bear an I am losing weight despite that fact. Besides, I know I can do it. I've lost substantial weight before ... I can do it again! The stakes are high even with all of my malfunctions noted. The great news is that my friends/family are beginning to notice my weight loss efforts.
A wise friend once told me, "I don't think there is one person who is totally satisfied with their weight (either loss or gain - depending on the individual.) She's absolutely correct. If by writing this column helps one person, as well as myself, it is definitely worth the time and effort. This column is truly the best "diet" that I have ever been on.
Last week, I had an appointment with a dietitian. It was extremely informative and I was glad that I went. This helpful visit was to re-acquaint myself with the concept of how to properly achieve my weight loss goal.
This information has a broad view of basic material for the general public; however it is tailored to suit individual needs. I think that just about everyone would benefit from being referred to a dietitian. The following are my "cliff notes' version: I am not to skip meals (meaning I need to eat every four to five hours). FACT; Before this advice, I just ate twice a day and than had a gorge-fest on anything that I could find in the cupboard.
Another thing that I agreed to: my calorie intake should be about 1,500 calories per day. Keeping a food journal is quite helpful. There are a number of sites (sparkpeople.com, caloriecontrol.org, mypyramid.gov) or books ("Calorie King") that can track or display how many calories are in particular food item. Boosting my (your) activity level is crucial, too.
So, in a nutshell (pistachios, cashews and almonds are yummy) it has been a great last two weeks. Valuable information and a great weight loss number - what a wonderful combination to move in the right direction!
Casi Stewart can be reached at casichilstew@- yahoo.com.
