I’m halfway to being overweight! Huzzah!
With a 4.2-pound loss this week, I broke the 10-pound mark. No, don’t get too excited (monetary gifts can be donated to United Way). Pounds drop pretty easily in the early days. The hard part of starting a diet is the mental game. Later, as my metabolism slows from prolonged dieting and lean muscle loss – all but inevitable as you shed fat – I’ll need to cut calories further and ramp up exercise to maintain steady losses.
The big difference this past week was the restraint I showed on cheat day. I limited myself to a sub sandwich, a slice of chocolate cake and a big bowl of cereal – in addition to 1,500 calories of my usual fare.
Speaking of exercise, I should probably do some. You’d never know I was once the fitness editor at a fitness magazine. I guess I maxed out my interest in going to the gym early. I always liked weights, never cared for cardio. Now I’m not a big fan of either. Still, if I don’t want to just become a skinny fat guy who wheezes climbing one flight of stairs, I better build my cardiovascular and muscular fitness.
I am trying a little. A few pushups, a bit of time on the exercise bike. I’m interested in running, so that’s on my ‘to do’ list when I get a bit lighter. Standing at the finish line for the Cross Border Challenge – I was reporting, not running – I made an informal commitment with a family member to be a participant next summer. Running a marathon is the dream.
I have two new favourite snacks to report: Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches, and dill pickles when I’ve used up all my calories eating ice cream sandwiches.
This is not an advice column. Please consult a medical expert or nutritionist for sound dietary advice. Eric Sparling is an Amherst Daily News reporter, and former senior editor at Oxygen, a women’s fitness magazine.
