Diet. Weight loss. Reduction. Starvation. Geez I wonder why weight loss doesn't have a positive feel! It got me thinking.
I've carried around a few extra pounds over the past 10+ years. I knew it. I felt it, but I was apparently comfortable with the extra weight since I wasn't doing anything about it. Was it comfort or laziness or just plain avoidance? I was still "relatively active" able to keep up with my young son and play hockey.
I was also tired of hearing about all the fad diets: Banting, Paleo, Dr. Bernstein, Jenny Craig, WeightWatchers, Bariatric surgery, etc.. because it didn't feel right for me. I knew my approach would need to be more holistic. It wasn't just about weight loss. it was about my overall health and well being.
So, what triggered the motivation to get to a weight that felt better? A confluence of events. First off, my wife and I committed to a Dry January (no alcohol). We didn't consider ourselves alcoholics, but it felt like the right thing to do following the holidays. Second, I received a FitBit for X-mas. Anyone who knows me knows I love games. Any games, anytime. Turn anything into a game and I'm there - whether its competing against myself or others. Third, a realization of my food weaknesses. I don't believe I have an addictive personality, however chips and salty snacks seemed to be calling out to me late in the evenings. Last but defintely not least - exercise. I have been fortunate to inherit good genes; a strong heart, a slim build, and an ability to take up most activites with ease. However that was becoming a problem with age. You can't ski all out all weekend, when you're nearing 50, without some conditioning!
What brought all of this together was my hockey buddy Terry with DietBet. A great way to bring individuals together and put their money where their mouth is when it comes to becoming healthier.
So, thank you to my friends and family for creating the events that lead to me getting to where I knew I should be all along (though I have a few more pounds to lose).
Checklist of why/how it worked for me
1. Dry January - (Alcohol has tons of calories and it weakened me to eat junk food)
2. Gamification - DietBet, FitBit and setting goals (minimum 10,000 steps per day)
3. Snacking - No more snacking after dinner and no more chips or salty snacks in the house
4. Exercise - Literally Just Do It. Find a club or activity, schedule it and go out and do it
5. Portion control - You don't have to eat until you feel full.
So, what happens when I hit my target weight or when the "games" are over? Does it all just revert back? I don't know yet. What I do know is I will continue to use my FitBit as a constant reminder of my daily activity. I will continue to be mindful of food portions. I will continue to avoid late night snacking. I will have an ideal picture in my mind's eye of how I want to look and feel.
In summary I made a game of it, set my own personal targets, had others hold me accountable, became aware of the food I was putting into my body, and Just Did It. And you know what? Was it easy? Of course not! Who cares if it was easy. It was/is rewarding and it feels good physically and emotionally.