I bitched and moaned a bit about gaining weight over the last 18 months. I’ve made half-hearted attempts to get back on track. Today, I’m getting serious.
My weight goals:
- Get back down under 200lbs by March 2012
- Get to my goal weight of 175lbs by September 2012
- Maintain my weight between 175 and 180 indefinitely
How will I achieve these goals? I will:
- Get back to tracking everything I consume
- Drink beer only for special, social occasions
- Quit going out to eat alone
- Quit eating at my desk at home or at work – especially snacks
- Severely limit carbohydrate consumption, especially sugars and grains, except on days with big bike rides
- Visit coffee shops less often, I drink my coffee black, but coffee shops have very little I can eat
- Look into a support group, such as Overeaters Anonymous – I’ll ditch it if I see little value
I have some physical goals also:
- Gain some upper-body strength
- Through diet or supplements, reduce inflammation – this should help my neck and other areas
Somebody asked if I was starting this at the first of the year. No, it started TODAY. I’m not waiting. Here’s my food list for the day (don’t worry, I won’t be posting this all the time):
Breakfast:
Banana
Yogurt
Lunch:
Bowl of chili
Dinner:
Spaghetti w/meat sauce – serving was a little too big
Snack:
Almonds – serving was a little too big
You’ll notice I’m not counting calories. I think what I eat, and the amount of it is more important than an inaccurate calorie count. I’m also not measuring stuff closely, but relying on common sense. Portion sizes will be a challenge.
I also have some bicycle goals:
- Complete a ten-day tour next year
- Participate in at least one race next year (I’ll be racing Gravel Grovel this Saturday, but I mean another race)
- Get faster so I can keep up and have company during a Populaire/Brevet
- Buy a lighter road bike set up “Brevet” style
- Buy a mountain bike and try to avoid breaking any bones
- Ride one century per month next year
I’m 40 years old. I’m in better shape now that when I was 35, but things have been heading downhill again. I think that losing weight, eating better, and getting stronger will help my mental and physical well-being. I may even see improvement in my neck, which is important as I can feel the inflammation returning. I’m terrified of going back in for another epidural.
So, this “project”, over four years in, is being reset.
Goals, strategy, accountability, all mixed in with some fun. Sounds like a perfect plan.
I know I can do it if I keep focused on it. I’ve lost focus and am doing my best to regain it.
I brought a mostly healthy lunch of reasonable size to work today. Since I won’t be eating at my desk, I sat with some co-workers. It was nice to have the company.