This is the final weight loss diary entry that I will be publishing because although I was still half pound (225 grams) short of my target weight on Friday April 14 I extended this session by another couple of days to make my target. Sunday’s weigh-in saw my weight at 180 pounds (89 kilo’s) the target I set on February 5 when my weight was 198 pounds (98 kilo’s).
At the start of the weight loss program the target was set to lose one pound (450 grams) each week making it an 18-week assignment; it has been achieved in just 10 weeks. During this period no food that I like has been given up for more than one-day at a time and exercise has been set at just 30-minutes each week. (However I must state that as I got into the exercise regime and started enjoying the added fitness it did increase to about an hour each week).
So what was the most successful thing about the program?
A tough question to answer because each part of the program is so important. However if pushed to pick one single thing it must be learning about serving sizes. Ignoring healthy serving sizes is the biggest cause of obesity in the western world.
What did I like most about the program?
That’s an easy question because I liked regaining aerobic fitness above everything else. Not just the formal exercise part of the program but just being more aware of including exercise in my daily life. Stopping delivery of my daily newspaper and walking to buy it each morning. Parking my car as far as possible from the supermarket entrance was great in two ways: First it made me walk a little further to and from the car. Second I rarely had a problem parking the car and it was totally hassle free – a beautiful way to live your life. Then there was refusing to use any escalator if stairs were available. Now I find myself looking for hills to walk up for no other reason than the challenge. This added mobility has another added benefit; I’ve met so many new and interesting people who take regular exercise.
The benefit of losing 18 pounds (9 kilo’s) is good for my health, but even better for my social life is the new people that I’ve met and my rediscovered aerobic fitness. Life is really great.
From emails that I receive I know that some people are following this program with me and some are beating my results while others are not quite on par. The great thing is that even the least successful is still losing one-pound each week and that is the program target. Congratulations. Even if you are 200 pounds overweight it will only take four years at most to achieve your target without giving up anything that you like. The only question you need answer is do I want to lose one-pound (450 grams) each week?
This article is copyright © David McCarthy 2006.
