2.8 is a beautiful number

2.8 is the amount in pounds of my weight loss after the first week on my new strategic eating plan - six small meals a day at 7,10,1,4,7 10. I did not concentrate on quality, only on eating at the proper times and listening to my body in order to not overeat. The result, I lost 2.8 pounds in one week.

I understand that according to those in the know, 1 or 2 pounds a week is appropriate and healthy, but I don't believe in cookie-cutter answers. It sounds to me as ridiculous as drinking 8 glasses of water a day, no matter your size. It just does not make sense to me and let me tell you why. A person that weights 400 pounds and goes into a sensible eating plan, like six meals a day, and starts doing 10 minutes of walking a day (because that is how much they can do before they feel like they are going to drop dead) will probably loose more than 2 pounds a week in the beginning. Watch the "Biggest Looser" and you will understand what I mean. If you do all this and get regular checkups from your doctor, I am sure that you will find this to be your new reality until your body gets used to it and then you need to add more exercise or make sure that you are eating the healthiest food combinations possible.

Now I am not saying that because I weighted 205 pounds last Friday, there is a set number of pounds that I can loose. I am just celebrating the obvious joy of loosing a little bit more than I thought I would. And, let's be honest. I would not mind at all if I keep on loosing 2.8 pounds a week for the next 10 or 20 weeks. I would get back to my goal weight in no time if that was possible. We will just have to keep averaging our weight loss and keep an eye on it.

Keep trying.

Changing your eating habits

I play tennis at least twice a week, with a good friend of mine. This Tuesday, we were talking about eating habits. This would be a good time to mention that my girlfriend is 5' nothing and weights 140 (or so she says). I really don't see any fat in her but she feels she could loose about 20 pounds. That is why she walks an hour every morning and plays tennis at least 5 times a week.

As we are discussing improvements in play and lifestyle, we get into the subject of eating habits. She tells me that if I get into a schedule (6 meals a day at the hours of 7,10,1,4,7 and 10) I should start seeing a difference and that my body is acting out because it feels like it is always on starvation mode. I tell her that when my niece leave on Monday, I will start. Then she proceeds to give me "THE SPEECH".

We all know "the speech". It is when someone gives you a lecture on something that you know well and that you hate getting a speech on. This one was about starting now and not when life is "perfect". And of course, I mentioned that when I quit smoking I just did it. But now, I wanted life to be a little more balanced.

When I got home, I started thinking about "THE SPEECH". And you know what? Too many times we wait for perfect conditions, a better schedule, or a lighter workload, or Monday...whatever, in search of the "perfect" time to do things right, and then, we never get around to it.

So, guess what? Yesterday, I started eating on a schedule. I did not concern myself so much with whether or not it was completely healthy ( although I included yogurt and fruits in my choices). What I was most concerned with was making sure that I got my body used to eating at certain times of the day, and controlling portions based on how full I felt when it was time to eat.

The day was fantastic. I look forward to many days like that. So should you. Keep trying.

Holiday - and I am up early

I have been trying to take my body back to the original internal clock, which was about 7 AM to 11 PM. This week I have been making it pretty regularly. The first three days of the week, I was in bed by 10 PM and I would wake up at different times, between 5:40 and 6:10 AM. Yesterday I went to bed close to midnight and woke up at 10 to 8 AM. All in all, not a bad week.

Today, however, it is 4th of July. I could have slept in, but I want to keep going and re-training my body. I am looking forward to spending a day in a bikini, in traffic, going to a cool hangout with some old friends...well, everything except for the bikini part. I am nowhere near the size I need to be to wear a bikini. Nothing that a good, long, t-shirt cannot solve. Ironically, when I was 16 and had a great body, it spent most of the summer under a t-shirt as well. Back then I was embarrassed about my curves.... I guess some things never change.

So why am I saying all this. For one, simple reason. No matter where you are in life, or how you feel, don't let that stop you from enjoying each and every day, embarrassment or not. We only get one chance to enjoy the 4th of July of 2008, after that, this day is gone. Enjoy it!!!
Keep trying.