Wait Loss

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Weight loss - something that most of us need to do. But this isn't a post about what "we" need to do. It's about what "I" need to do (and am trying to do).

For a few years now, I have been waxing whimsical about my thirtieth year on Planet Earth. That was the year I made a serious effort to get into shape. My regimen began with dieting, jogging, eventually gym membership and weight training. All the things you're supposed to do to get in shape.

And, in shape I was! Over the course of several months, I dropped about 40 lbs (hitting a "peak" low of 206), had a cholesterol of somewhere in the 140's, a pulse rate in the high 50's, blood pressure of something darn low - my doctor said I was in the shape of a 19 year-old. Yeah!

I played volleyball, basketball and softball on our insurance-league teams and other rec leagues. One of my friends, who hadn't seen me for a few months, thought I was ill, I had lost so much weight! I felt GREAT!

Alas, the gym membership ceased and the daily regimen changed. My job within the company changed, and I moved away from the peer-support within the office. I went vegetarian for a while, trying to keep the weight under control without the regular exercise program, but ultimately I regained my taste for fat-laden delicacies. Oh, and I started a new hobby - homebrewing.

Needless to say, the weight came back on, besting my former max by about 25 lbs.

After procrastinating (for what, sixteen years?), I decided to do something about it - with some thanks to my current employer and their wellness program. We started a team walking challenge on June 1 (we did it last year, too, but I didn't take it all that serious). As of my June 4 physical, I weighed in at 267 (and that was even down a few lbs from a mid-May doctor visit), blood pressure was 117:70, pulse at 70 (without caffeine), and cholesterol at 228.

Over the past 5 weeks, my walking regimen has gradually increased from 1.5- 2 miles daily to 3.5-4 miles and is a walk/jog at a 50:50 ratio. I visited the doctor on July 6, and my blood pressure was 104:70, pulse at 62, and I'm really starting to feel good. I swam with the boys yesterday at the local pool, and managed to get a good 45+ minutes of aerobic-type exercise (lap swimming, treading water, etc.) - something I wasn't able to do when we did a mid-winter swim at the Y in January.

The weight loss hasn't been as rapid as I had hoped - as of today, I'm 10 lbs lighter five weeks into this. Perhaps that is just fine - I wish I knew what my weight loss rate was when I was 30, it just seemed more rapid. Who knows?

What else motivates me? There are several hangers with dress pants the next size down in my closet beckoning me - my current pants are getting a little baggy, a little worn, and need to be replaced soon. I'm just not quite able to slip comfortably into the "new" old ones. Yet.

My goal is 220. Not as low as when I was 30, but I really feel I can hit this if I persevere. According to the weight loss experts, 2 lbs a week is healthy, so I'm looking at hitting my goal by Thanksgiving. Just in time for the holiday feeding frenzy! Ugh.