Six months ago I joined a group on Ravelry dedicated to weight loss. The first post was about measurements and goals, the subsequent ones about progress or lack of it.
As I was writing a six-month update today, it occurred to me that it may be interesting for you to see the goals I had and which ones have I achieved.
The original goals are in italics.
Stats now
Height: 167cm/5'6"
Age: 36
Kids: 0
Cats: 2
Starting weight: 86kg/190#
Current weight: 67kg/148#
Target weight: 66kg/145#
Lost in 6 months: 4kg/8#
Total weight loss: 19kg/42#
4 kilos over 6 months seems not to be much, considering that it's possible to lose that amount in one month. But, and it's a big but, I'm in it for life. I don't want crash diets, pills or surgery. Finding out what works or does not work for my particular body is what it's all about.
I want to be able to eat what I will, when I will and how much I will without gaining weight. Therefore I need to train myself to eat less, healthier, more nutritious food. Have take out or restaurant food as a rare treat instead of daily occurrence. I'm not done with the training, the adjustments and experiments, but I'm nearly there.
I think it is more important to eat sensibly than to diet, eat organic as much as possible instead of "detox" and cook most of your meals from scratch yourself than to rely on take-out or eat out. So what if it takes a long time to get to my goal? I'll get there and stay there.
Short-term goal: to get to the target weight, wear size 40 trousers.
Not there yet, one kilo / 2.5 lbs to go. I’m not size 40 yet either.
Long-term goal: maintain the target weight through exercise, gain some muscle.
I hate exercise.
The food part of the plan: portion control, portion control, portion control. I have no problems choosing healthy food (carrot sticks, yum!), but I have a problem eating too much.
No problems here. I can't physically consume as much as I used to. Success!
The exercise part of the plan: I will begin with the Ill Fit program today and work up to 30 minutes a day 4 days a week by Aug 21. Then I will continue with that for 14 weeks. Hopefully by the end of 14 weeks I've developed a habit of exercising and won't hate it so much.
I hate exercise! Total fail. I could be slimmer, go down a size simply by weight training, but it bores me to death. I may forever stay a size 42, but life is too short to be bored.
The mental part of the plan: watch like a hawk for signs of emotional eating/depression. Remind myself that exercise won't kill me even if the heart rate goes beyond 140. Never, ever again compete with a 6'6" obese bloke who can eat more. I know I can, I don't need to prove anything to anyone.
No worries here either. Last time I wanted to buy a pizza because I was stressed and in a hurry, I bought ingredients for tuna salad instead. I really hate exercise. Last time someone tried to pressure me to eat more than I felt like, I refused without a scrap of guilt. Success (mostly) here too.
P.S. My inner reaction to seeing '19 kilos lost' is: OMG! 19! 19!!!! O.O