Fits and Starts

It's funny that every time I come back to my blog, I notice that I haven't posted in about a year. But that's fine. I started this blog to track my weight loss endeavors through space and time, and that's what I plan to do. In my last post I said I would cover psychological issues of my weight and body image, but I think I'd like to give an update first.

Physical stats (as of today)
Weight: 339lbs
Height: 5'11''
Waist size: Somewhere between 48 and 50 (God, I remember when I was wearing 36s and 38s!)
Mood: Ok... (-_- )

This is the biggest I have ever been and the numbers have just been going up and up with no end in sight. I'm scared for health reasons and also touching on the psychological piece I talked about in my previous post, I'm depressed about it. But, I saw some recent pictures of myself from a gathering with friends and decided enough was enough. I took a drastic measure and.... *gasp* joined Weight Watchers. Damn you Jennifer Hudson, with your new urms and new legs!

No, but really. She wasn't the hook. I just figured, aside from the lack of physical exercise, that something must be wrong with my diet. I have gained about 15 lbs since the beginning of the year. I'm sure the weight gain is for multiple reasons (including losing my Mom in January, starting blood pressure medication ( -_-), and just being so much less physically active.

But the Weight Watchers programme seems to have it right so far. I'm given a "point total" to stick to everyday. Every food has a point value, which is subtracted from the point total for the day when the food is eaten. I'm not supposed to surpass that point total for the day. Additionally, one is given a certain amount of reserve points for the week, and extra points for exercising.

After using the system for 4 days, it's already clear to me why I've been gaining weight. I've exceeded my point value everyday, and have eaten into all my reserve points. The only extra points I have are a few from a little bit of exercise I did on Sunday.

It seems that Weight Watchers is really about teaching portion control and consciousness of what you're eating. It really makes keeping track of food intake practical and in essence makes calorie counting easier, although there is not a direct correlation with point values and calories. The point values are based on carbs, fat, fiber, and protein. Foods high in fat tend to have higher point values, as well as foods high in carbs with little fiber. There are times that you may cook food and you can't always calculate the total calories. But the Weight Watchers point system makes it a lot simpler with a huge database of food and the ability to create custom recipes to determine the point values. Even if you can't enter in the exact food you had, you can estimate and come pretty close to your point value.

Basically, I've been keeping a food diary, which I never thought was feasible, practical, or useful. But I'm really being proven wrong. I look forward to see if I get any results from this endeavor, and I plan to at least stick to it for a month (hell, I got special deal and got 3 months free, so I really need to use it longer!). Exercise is something I need to integrate back into my life... and I need to consider it a life long thing. I don't know why I can't just buckle down and make it as normal as my commute to work!

Anyway, I will touch on some of the psychological issues with weight loss in my next post. I promise. Really. I want to try to stick to things this time and I think I've found the motivation to do so.

If anything, I've given up on the idea that my situation is hopeless. That in and of itself is a major step.