Wednesday, March 14, 2012; DAY 128; 7:07AM: Well, Tom Petty famously sang the lyrics "..I'll stand my ground, And I WON'T Back Down." Oddly enough a man, by life or by lyric, not necessarily known for healthy choices, has become my most recent inspiration for persistence in my journey to health and wellness. For the first time in a real way, I have stumbled along the way toward this goal. Last Monday night at fat camp (Aultman Weight Loss Center) I weighed in at 223.0 pounds. A gain of one pound from the previous week. Netting my total loss to date at 52 pounds. The VERY FIRST gain or poor result in the entire process. YES, IT IS MY FAULT ENTIRELY! I'll explain.
All week following the great results from the previous two weeks, I really increased my workouts. I felt great! I worked out an average of roughly two hours each day between running, swimming, cardio machines, weights and, abs. I was feeling fine, recovering well, and had a single minded focus to get under the 220 barrier headed into my honeymoon. My wife and I headed shopping at an outlet mall for some new clothes since much of what we own we do not fit into anymore. It was on Saturday, two days before the weigh in. I worked out hard on cardio machines and weights for an hour and a half. I went home had some water and a cup of coffee and waited for my wife to wake so we could take a short run before heading shopping. Heading out I had a shake and 32 ounces of water, packed another shake and more water, and off we went. The day got away from me as far as my eating schedule and by the time all was said and done we had walked another 3.5 miles and I hadn't remembered to eat or drink anything since breakfast (THIS IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED BY THE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AT FAT CAMP - AULTMAN WEIGHT LOSS CENTER). Tired and starving we pulled the car to a restaurant that is not known for healthy choices.
This is where the turn for the worse takes place.
We sat down to eat. As I looked over the menu I rationalized to myself that one bad meal would not affect my progress considering the time and effort I had put in working out, and lack of calories I had consumed to that point through out the day. I ordered a half sandwich (Too Much Starch), split an order of hot wings (Too Much Fat and Sodium), and had a couple slices of pizza (Too Much of EVERYTHING!). But, I did wash it down with a diet coke (because that will make up for all of the crap I put into my body). I've always said I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, here is your proof.
Skip ahead to Monday following the weigh in, as I'm sitting in the consultation with my dietitian Angie, completely appalled at myself and the result, and wholly worried about the future. The overarching concern: How do I ever adapt back to all food if one meal caused a pound of weight gain? How is it even possible to maintain once I hit my goal weight, especially considering the work I've put in with the fitness? Well fair questions to be sure, but it turns out things aren't as bleak as the numbers would have made them appear. Angie explained the high sodium content from the one meal could very well have caused significant water retention, and it usually takes days to filter out of the system. Sodium can cause major weight fluctuation due to water retention. Oh,..umm, okay, as I return to a less frantic state and continue to consult with Angie a few things come to light. The increased workout I was performing could very well have also put my body into starvation mode. Wow, double whammy.
This much is clear. Decisions we make always affect us regardless of whether we believe there is a counter balance through over compensating in one or more areas. Staying the routine that had proven so successful of eating within the parameters given at fat camp (Aultman Weight Loss Center), and working out at reasonable levels of output provided the desired results. Good decision making has to be an "All The Time" process, not most of the time. Real life scenarios such as last week will always present themselves, but I always have a choice. I should have chosen to A.) Drink the shake in the car, and B.) eat a salad or grilled protein instead of the high sodium, high fat choices I made. Please understand, this IS NOT a product or a prescribed plan of fat camp (Aultman Weight Loss Center). This is a product of my overconfidence and my poor decision making. I can and will do better.
I am human, but I do expect so very much more out of myself. I am unconditionally supported in all facets of my life to succeed in this journey, but ultimately I have to be completely accountable for my own progress, results, and maintenance. Life can and will be normal, but a new kind of normal. I am beginning to see and realize how important it is to A.) make good decisions, B.) minimize the bad ones, C.) not to over compensate one area to fix another, and D.) realize one bad result does not make it final, unless I allow it to. I am more resolved than ever to reach my goal weigh and continue a healthy lifestyle. As I always say "Life Happens." But it is up to me to manage it when it does.
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