It has been a rough month. I fell of the horse with running and losing weight. I’m beginning to feel like the old fat Mark again. It’s not a good feeling. Clothes are getting tight again. Sleep calls me back to bed a few hours after I wake up. My back moans when I wake up. This is something I want to revert to. I’m recommitting myself to permanently eliminating the unhealthy weight.
Getting and staying at a healthy weight will reduce health (physical and mental) problems. There are so many benefits for me to do this.
- My self esteem will be better.
- I won’t have long periods of sadness.
- I will have more energy regain my mental focus.
- I won’t be tired.
- I lower my risk for Type II diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
- No more creaky back and joints.
- Saving money long term. Less illness means less mandatory doctor visits, medical procedures and medicine.
- I also want to feel handsome. (Yeahhh Baby!)
Goals
Here’s a list of my goals for 2009.
- Shed twenty-five pounds before the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8K on March 29th 2008.
- Eliminate about one unhealthy pound a month until I reach my ideal weight.
- Ultimately, I want to be around my ideal weight by my second Chicago Marathon.
- Maintain my healthy weight through the holidays.
Where Do I Want to Go?
I keep on saying my ideal weight when I talk about eliminating unhealthy pounds. What really is it? It depends. It depends on muscle mass, height, and who you’re talking to. It’s more of a range. There are better ways to find your healthy weight than weight itself. (Does that make sense?) According to Dr Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz’s book, You on a Diet, there are other indicators for a healthy body. I need to get down to a weight that will lower my blood pressure to the ideal 115/76 mm Hg. (124) The optimum waist size for a man is 35 inches or less. (203) These are things I can measure on my own without the help of a doctor or a nurse.
Where Am I Now?
As of Sunday, December 7th 2009, I am…
- Weight: 210.2 lbs
- Blood Pressure: 120/86 mm Hg
- Waist: 41.5in.
Those are pretty homely numbers.
How am I Gonna Get There?!
This week I’m going to take baby steps by walking at least 30 minutes a day and build up to running again. I’ve been sick the past week so I need to recuperate before I do any outdoor activity. One things I must do this time around is monitor what I eat every day and identify what’s moving me to eat. I know I say it all the time but food is my emotional crutch. It’s something I must accept and work with. I’ve been good at exercising. I’ve been naughty with the food. Combining good food habits and good exercise habits will make the weight elimination process faster.
It’s all about working harder and smarter. I’m going to use my website as a vehicle to take me where I want to go. I’ll be posting all my races and updates here. It’s one way to keep me accountable. I’m also going to use the knowledge I gained from reading You on a Diet. I’d love to join Weight Watchers but I’m financially unhealthy also.
Incentives
A more wealthy life through health should be enough but it’s hard to keep your eyes on the goal without some extra motivation. At the mall yesterday, I was tempted by a couple of ties and a suit at Brooks Brothers. My promise to myself is a new suit from Brooks Brothers to fit my improved body.
oh, you’re inspiring me! Good goals—especially the pace you’ve set for yourself. A pound a month is weight that will stay off, rather than a pound a week or a day like I’ve heard people talk about. Best wishes!
Thanks! I’ll be satisfied at 185 pounds. My waist line should be in the healthy range and my blood pressure should be normal. I chose a pound a month because I want to focus on being healthy and not on a number.