It’s amazing I haven’t let the stress get to me. “Conditions to close” is probably the worst phrase I’ve ever read. With that said, I haven’t skipped the gym, nor have I let my feelings lead me astray to chocolate or other comfort foods. I’m still rockin’ it in the gym and the kitchen as we get ready for the big move on February 17.
I remain a constant fixture, as the things behind me get packed up to go to Goodwill or the new house. In just about three weeks, my wife and I will be homeowners.
Today’s Weight: 198 pounds, –0.2 pounds from last Wednesday (146.2 pounds lost)
Today’s Body Fat Percentage: Coming Feb 22 (first update in the new house)
Average Daily Calories for the Last 7 Days: 2,300
Most Calories in One Meal: Wild Wings on Saturday night (keep reading)
Most Calories Burned in One Session: Probably 600 calories last Wednesday morning on my new cardio day. I did an hour of nothing but the elliptical machine — I kept the workout really simple and difficult by continually adding resistance.
Most Repeated Workout Song: Billy Joel – Piano Man
And before I’m e-mailed two dozen times again like last week about putting a Billy Joel song on my workout playlist: it’s Mr. Joel to you, haters.
This week saw a little bit higher average calorie count due to my wife’s birthday over the weekend. We celebrated over a juicy steak and a baked potato. The night before (Saturday night), my daughter and I had a daddy and daughter date at Wild Wings, my favorite restaurant. Our meal included fried mushrooms for an app and grilled chicken with some spicy cheeses and fajita mix — upscale bar food, if such a thing exists.
I’m such a good date. I paid the bill, too.
Still no soda (50+ days strong) of course, but the calories were a little heavy over the weekend for those two meals. The rest of Saturday and Sunday were good, as were the last five weekdays, and I even snuck in a gym workout on Sunday afternoon.
Going to the gym 5-6 days a week combined with 2,100 calories a day has been working well for months now. I don’t plan on changing that formula anytime soon. On second thought, that’s always been the formula. I’m just actually following the formula now and not going overboard on calories over the weekends like I once did.
I was “going stupid” on the weekends up until last November. When you eat 2,000 calories over five days, then 3,500 the next two, your overall weekly average obviously goes way up. Sure, the work during the five weekdays still count, but your progress is seriously hindered by the gross excess in calories over the weekend.
I’m glad I put that to rest. I’m seeing results in the mirror and losing body fat because of it. I couldn’t be more motivated, even with all of the other craziness in my life.
On the other hand, I’m sure plenty of folks that started losing weight a few weeks ago are getting a little stir crazy and bored right about now. Please accept my apologies that you haven’t lost 50 pounds in three weeks like the ads said. I do have good news, though: you will have nearly reached your goal weight by February if you keep going.
February of 2013. In all seriousness, weight loss is a slow, painful process that lasts years. You need to get out of the short-term mentality and make this part of your life.
Think of it this way: you’re trying to cram counting calories (a square) into your life (a round hole). It’s uncomfortable now, but keep trying to jam that sucker into the hole.
Eventually, that hole will start to chip away and it’ll fit.