Over the past ten plus years, I gained a pound or two per year. It was not looking pretty. I absolutely refused to purchase new pants so again, they were getting rather tight! I knew that a moment would come when I was ready to address the situation and luckily the time arrived about four weeks ago.
For the past couple of weeks, I have watched my calories. Most especially my carb intake. I have, for the most part, eliminated many carbs.
No more pasta.
No more potatoes.
No more bread.
No more of those foods that I thought that I could not live without. I am still eating the complex carbs in fruits and vegetables. But guess what, I found out I could live without the carbs!!!
Full Disclosure: I DO give myself a break, generally once a week.
For example, last evening a couple of my work colleagues talked me into going to have an after work drink. First was the alcohol (I had not had any in several weeks). Next, after an hour or so, were the tacos complete with beans, meat, and lots of cheese. I ate a normal portion…did not beat myself up….and got back on track this morning.
I have a good friend who told me he wanted to begin this same eating pattern, and join me as a comrade in this venture. We have, supposedly, been eliminating the same foods…and enjoying the same foods i.e., eating tons of vegies and eliminating tons of pasta, etc. But something seems not to be working for him…in that I have lost ten pounds in four weeks and he has lost one pound. He will jump on the wagon when he is ready…or not.
Eating habits are learning at our Mother and Father’s knees. My Mother was an exceptional cook. We had three hot meals a day with homemade bread at every meal. But, given that we lived on a dairy farm, we began work at 5:30 EVERY morning and stopped around 6:30 in the evening…with school sandwiched between. Lots of good calories in, and lots of work calories out.
In my office job it is impossible to get that work-out naturally. I have begun walking and am now up to four miles most days. It takes approximately one hour and I feel great when I complete this routine. And with this exercise, married to a revised meal selection, the pounds are falling off.
I know that once I lose the desired weight that the work is not over. I plan to weigh daily, eating no or little carbs four days a week, and some carbs the remaining days. This balance of food and exercise works for me. You need to find the right combination for you. I still have 15 pounds to go…and I have every reason to believe that I will accomplish my goal.
Jerry