It’s 2019 and I got some weight to lose

by gene | Feb 13, 2019 | Misc Diet Related, The Self Fitness Diary

Time to Get in Gear, again!

I can’t even begin to overstate the frustration I have when revisiting this blog and my journey to see I have not made any progress in my original goals!! In fact I have  put on close to 15 pounds since I first initiated it as well!

Well, I’m not going to get into details but lets just say, for lack of a better term. I slacked off a bit, I got a cushy office job and I sit most of the day , And I was eating poorly at lunch. I also was/am in a comfortable relationship. And , let’s face it. Admit it. We tend to get too comfortable sometimes when we are in a relationship. We put off the necessary “me time” required to undergo self evaluation and discipline. We too easily make poor diet decisions  and our sleep habits are far too inconsistent.

Now that the honeymoon with the new job is well over, and I plan to return to the world of freelance soon. It is my significant other that has inspired me to move forward. She, pursuing her Yoga Certification is more active herself and we both are improving upon our already decent diet (remember I said I was eating poorly at work, not so at home where I routinely make fresh meals.) . At the start of this New year I was eager as usual to get started. I had been doing some off and on strength training all this time. (I’m def stronger) but looking at this VERY site, I got depressed to thing how poor my progress has actually been!

Add to that, logging in to my FitnessPal account and it just became a downward spiral.

With a BMI of 29.4 I am considered “overweight: and borderline OBESE!  3 years ago I successfully brought my weight down to 175 from 185 as i pursued my goal of 165. NOW i am 200 and thinking 175 feel damn near impossible!. I’m older now, my recovery take so much longer, I think  I can do things I used to be able to do but the truth is I cant.

So what changed?
I’ll list some of the possibility and they may just be coincidence and in no particular order. (But hell I gotta figure this out)

• quit smoking (yes I used to smoke cigarettes on and off quite a bit) but Im completely off the tobacco now.
• New relationship (comfort/lazy factor)
• New Job (sitting almost all day)
• Getting older
• bad sleep habits (inconstancy 6.5 hours avg. not consistent bed time)
•  most Veggie/pescatarian diet  (I wondered if I get enough protein)
• Low T levels. Hey it happens, and I have no plans of taking any superficial hormone therapy.
• yo-yo diet products (I’ve done a few)
• inconsistent workouts. (bad habit. was like 1 intense day one week and then 5 days the next….Not good)
• Impatient – (this takes so long, especially now that I’m over 40 !@@!
• Mood Swings/Depression/Stress (hormone related?)

Now what?

For the past 3 weeks I have been on a routine again. I’m working out 4-5 days a week. 2 of at least are resistance training. . Also now that tie is more of a concern for me, I try and lift lighter, and faster. (not actually faster per say) but more sets, more interval intensity training.

I got my fitbit now and it syncs with fitness pal. BUT I quickly realized that I don’t want it to count my steps as workouts and increase my calorie allowance. So I gotta take the wrist band off unless I’m actually working out.

I’m sleeping better, still not going to bed at a consistent time though. Eating better, while I had a health diet…I realize now I have to pay far more attention to Portion Control than I have in the past. Thus, myfitnesspal calorie counter. I have had this thing off and on for 5 years so have a pretty good database. I m not sure I endorse counting calories for the rest of your life (actually I’m sure i do not). But its good to do for a while when you get back into a routine. You realign your brain with what a proper portion looks like. And how easily something like half an avocado vs a 1/4 avocado can change things up! What does a 4 oz piece of chicken look like? How about 6 ounce? etc.etc. Im also, cutting carbs a bit. I’m not big o the eliminate carbs from your diet plan (I just don’t buy it). but I am keen on a macro plan. BALANCE, (in theory) should be maintained and that is the anchor of my current goal .

Wish me luck! As of now i’ weigh 198.5,. 4 weeks ago I was 202. I’m trying to be patient, consistent and more disciplined. I’m also trying to “chill out” more about things beyond control at the moment. —Lets see what happens! 😉

—-> heads to the GYM