Oh ye of little faith.
Didn’t think I could do it, did you? That’s OK. I regularly have doubts, too. Here’s a confession: you’re helping me as much as I’m helping myself. Honestly, if I didn’t have to report to this newspaper’s readers each week, I’d have gone back to cake for breakfast weeks ago.
So here’s what I’m going to propose: You can join me. In addition to putting this column in our paper, I’ve been posting it on our web-site. All you need to do is go to cumberlandnewsnow.com today and declare your starting weight in the comments section. Then, each week, you can update your fellow readers with your progress.
“Experience the joy of dieting! Revel in the pleasure of knowing the entire community will judge you if you fail! Bask in the belief going public with your fat will liberate you from it!”
OK, so maybe that’s not the best sales pitch. But I do know this: without motivation, a diet is doomed. A public pledge might be just the kick in the wide load you need. I certainly did.
I’m not there yet, though. I started in June and I’m dieting until Thanksgiving. So, I’m about a third of the way on the calendar. My goal was 40 pounds, and I’ve lost 13 and change – again, about a third of the way. I’m on track. Except the pounds will get harder to lose.
Exercise will be the key to making this happen. I had a good week for calorie counting, but slackened on exercise as the weekend approached. Developing muscle mass ramps up the metabolism and prevents shedding too much lean weight along with fat.
I got my eating under control. Now I need to do the same with exercise.
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.
