If you have read this blog from the beginning (and if not, feel free to see the archives), then you know that my running adventure started after I was diagnosed with, as my Physician friend Don described it, "industrial strength" high blood pressure. Three things caused this: 1)my weight. Although I had lost a few pounds that fall, I was still considered obese; 2)my genes. Iinherited this from my parents, especially my mom, who enjoys food with her salt; and 3)my diet. Although I was pushing 40, I continued to eat like I was in college and still had a metabolism.
Discovering that one has a condition that could lead to heart attack, stroke, even death, was a sobering thing. I immediately swore off salt, and haven't salted my food since December 2006. I also decided to start running again, hence, what you see here: a blog, a podcast, a new way of living. I had to lose weight, too. When my condition was discovered, I weighed 247. That was actually down from my all time high of 262 from the summer of 2000.
Running cut some weight in a hurry. In December 2006 I weighed 247. By June 2007 I weighed 217. That was the lowest I got. My body adjusted to running and the calorie burn slowed, and I got lazy again with my diet. I didn't eat "bad" stuff, compared to my earlier life. We always ate whole wheat, we drank no fat milk, we ate tons of fiber...but the issue was quantity--and the occasional--okay somewhat regular, fast food meal...
Last monday I weighed 231.5. Over the past few months I could tell that although my body was not as flabby as it used to be, I still had gained some weight. I carry the 40-year old male's albatross--belly fat. So I have decided to lose some weight. I downloaded "tap and track" an iPhone app that sets a weight goal, gives you a daily calorie limit and helps you keep track of it.
By putting it in this blog and later discussing it on the podcast, I want this goal to be as public as can be to give me accountability and motivation. The same thing worked when I was writing my dissertation in grad school. We wanted a family and couldn't until I got my doctorate and got a job. So I told my wife to ask me how many pages I had written each day she came home from work. That accountability assisted me in completing my dissertation and getting out of school and on to being a dad.
My goal: I'd like to lose 30 pounds, long term, at least. BUT, to assist in the effort, I need to carve this goal into reachable goals that will further motivate me to succeed. So, sub-goal no. 1: 10 pounds off by September 1. Sub-goal no. 2: total of 18 pounds off by October 10.
I want to weigh 213 by October 10. Today, after 1 week, I weighed 228.
