It’s been a few months since I started this weight control journey. It’s been a learning curve in a number of ways.
First and foremost there is no magic bullet. It was really a matter of changing my habits to eat less volume. Eat better choices. Maintain and increase my exercise regimen.
Although unique fad diets can help with results, ultimately do you want to depend on that costly pill, those pre-fab meals, the doctor visits, or the narrow eating habits?
Key principles: 1) Substitute whole grain options for flour products. 2) Read the labels. You’d be amazed how one brands serving of the exact same food may be four times as many calories. 3) Limit your intake and measure it. Saying that your going to only eat 1500 calories in a day without measuring leaves way too much to your mental fudge factor. Even better, write it down. 4) Exercise. Without it, your body will devour the healthy muscle tissue before the fat. I mixed it up between stepping and strength training so I didn’t focus everything in one place.
Yes, I allow myself a splurge once in a while. But when I reach the upper end of my range, I curtail my appetite. But when I’m on the low end, I eat anything although I still avoid excess.
Have I reached “that guy status”? You know like the Bowflex commercial guy? I have to say not quite. It’s a body fat percentage I’m not ready to go for because of the work and time involved.
I’ve lost a couple inches and 15 to 20 pounds. My weight fluctuates from 185 to 189. I weigh myself nearly every day to prevent backsliding. My muffin tops are no longer the ultra grande with a twelve pack bearing down which helps me to look younger than I actually am.
I do receive a lot of compliments and a few “don’t lose any more, you look great”s. I’m even catching women doing the “full body scan”, which i haven’t experienced in a long time. I haven’t been out to the beach since the cool weather is rolling in, but am looking forward to it.
21 Buzzards 