Slipping.

As I write this blog post and I try to fill this website with a loose chronicle of my weight release voyage, I find that I’m needing to make adjustments to my diet.

After travelling and all the general opportunities to eat and drink for the holidays, I’m not really making the kind of weight release progress I want to at the moment. So what does that mean? That means re-evaluating my current eating habits.

Right now my first meal of the day is two small breakfast burritos with a liter of water and a cup of black coffee. I’ll need to cut that back to one breakfast burrito, or cut that out entirely and start making an omelet for breakfast again, which is probably the best decision.

Momentary exceptions that I make to my diet can sometimes slip through my defenses and start growing in my life as new, comfortable, habits. Then I don’t want to change, because I find comfort in my routine, not only physically, but mentally.

That’s not disciplined behavior though. So I’m benevolent enough with myself that I can live life’s moments with my friends and family when I have the opportunity to. I’m tolerant enough to give myself a break when I didn’t see the numbers I wanted on the scale, because I maintain the discipline of measuring once a month so I can make adjustments like this. Now I need to be disciplined enough to adjust my diet so my body can respond in the positive way I want it to.

Update: (1/14/23)
I’ve definitely been cutting back on what I eat and trying to increase my water intake to a gallon a day. It helps if I leave a full liter of water in different high-traffic spots in my apartment like the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. Admittedly, I probably need to be eating more regularly. I know that my body responds well to eating every three to four hours, and ~1000 calories or less in a meal. If I fuss with the timing or go over the 1k calorie mark, I know my body will have a little more trouble releasing weight after that meal. For anyone actually reading this (hey, thanks for stopping by) I’ll say that I didn’t start with that formula, I had to figure it out. Some people don’t need as long as I do between meals, some people pick at their food over a long period of time, some people drink meal supplements, it’s all very personal. Try and make choices that you think will support your body’s weight release mechanisms, and then be kind to yourself. You don’t have to be a martyr. I have salted peanuts and Nutella in my cupboard, and when I’m craving something chocolaty or a trashy candy bar, I take a small palm full of peanuts, and a tablespoon of Nutella, and that’s enough to satiate the craving.

I mean, they have non-alcoholic beer, right? We’re just trying to trick our food addicted brain into thinking it’s getting “fun” food, releasing a little dopamine, and letting the craving fade.

Update: (1/21/23)
Success! I weighed myself at the gym this morning and I’ve released another five pounds. For two weeks that’s pretty much on track as a “safe” rate of weight release. Of course, I want more than that, but I also need to be realistic. I think what I’ll do is maintain the dietary and exercise disciplines, and increase aerobic activity on non-gym days. The aerobic activity won’t do much in the moment to release weight, but over time my body will get used to requiring a higher level of energy. As my stamina continues to increase my body will then be more likely to utilize my energy stores (fat), as long as I keep my diet nice and balanced.