I happened to catch VH1 All Access: Celebrity Diets last night. In it, we learn which actresses are using Atkins, or The Zone, or The South Beach Diet, or eating just raw food, or just salmon, fresh fruits and vegetables, and brown rice to maintain the svelte, fit look that Hollywood demands today. It was actually a rather interesting, balanced presentation... talking about who has lost how much weight, especially after having babies.
Given that I'm trying to lose some weight myself, seeing it gave me a sense of confidence that I had a good grasp of the fundamentals of weight loss.
Fast forward to this morning. Knowing that I loaded on some pounds between November of last year and February of this year, I have been anxious about actually weighing myself. This, in spite of the fact that I've been going to the gym regularly during most of the last eight weeks. This morning, I overcame that fear and stepped on the scale.
The results shocked and depressed me.
I weigh approximately 241 lbs.... or about 110kg... or just over 14 stone. That is the most I have ever weighed in my life.
I don't know what to make of this information. Because of my phobia about stepping on the scale before I started back with my current fitness regimen, I don't know if this number is better or worse than before. I also know that it's not really the weight that is the factor, it is the percentage of my body weight that is fat. I have no idea where I am in that regard. All I do know is that the pants I'm wearing right now are little tight, and a few years ago they would have been very loose.
Yet I know that my fitness level has improved during the last few weeks. I'm using more weight when I weight train. I'm able to go longer for my cardio workouts. Hell, I can tell that my biceps are bigger than they've been in a while... and I'm starting to get a little definition in my triceps. I also find that I find it easier to push myself during my workouts. These are all good things.
All I ultimately want is to repeat some results I had back in 2001. In early December 2000, I weighed about 229 lbs. By April 2002, I weighed about 211 lbs. I'm using largely the same exercise and diet regimen now that I used then. It's just that I am weigh more now... and I don't know what all this activity has done for me. Has my weight gone up because I've grown more muscle? Or was I really just turning into a big, fat hippo over Christmas of last year and this is better where I started? Am I working out too much? Am I not working out enough? Should I pay more attention to my diet? I don't know.
Well, actually I do know. I need to watch my portion sizes a little better. I need to cut down on my carbs a little bit... maybe eat more fruits and vegetables and less products containing refined sugar or starch. I need to eat more low fat foods... like lean meat and less salad dressings and fatty sauces. I definitely need to keep going to the gym and weigh myself more regularly to track how I'm doing.
*sigh*
said drgeek
on 2004-04-27 at 12:10 p.m.
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