I squeaked in at a hair under 274 this week. So no real (net) change in either direction from last week. The bad food is pretty much behind me, as are the parties, social occasions, etc. We are sticks in the mud for New Year's, so no debauchery will take place here tonight.

HW 481

Goal weight 300

Last week 274

This week 274

I have some strong opinions about exercise. I expressed them in another place on these boards and received some ire from the flying monkey squadron. I agree with the good Doctor Vuong about the gym. But. BUT. Exercise is important. I was very active even at my high weight, running a business which involved lots of hard physical activity and being on my feet most of the day.

Exercise burns calories. It is true that one cannot burn enough through activity to overcome bad diet. It is how much and what we eat that allows us to lose weight. But it is exercise that allows us - helps us - to maintain a calorie deficit. I swear some people never burn more than their resting metabolic rate gives them. That's not living. That's existing. Get off your butt and move around!

I hate the gym. I hated it when I was a kid in high school, even though I earned two varsity letters. I hate it now. I went there just long enough after surgery to get my stamina back. My goal, as the doctor put it, was to regain and even increase my stamina. I accomplished that, and stayed just long enough that I was ready to resume working. Because of all the lifting associated with my work, my surgeon advised an extra long recovery period. Neither of us wanted me busting a gut.

As soon as I could, I resumed bike riding, something I hadn't done in years. I love it. I look forward to it. And a one hour ride burns anywhere from 500-750 calories depending on a number of variables. Three or four hours of that a week not only allows me to run a significant deficit, it gets my heart and circulatory system in great shape. According to my fitness tracker, I have a resting heart rate in the upper 40s to low 50s.

The mistake people make, and a friend of mine is a good example, is thinking that if I burn 500 calories on my ride, I get to EAT 500 more calories. When I was discussing it with her, her eyes got big and round, and she said, "Wow! That's like free eating! You can eat those calories penalty free!"

"Noooo!!!! You don't get to eat them back! It's how you continue to lose!" I sat there thinking, "That's why you're still 40 lbs away from goal five years out."

So no, exercise, doesn't help you lose, but it DOES help you maintain if you do it right. I can see a difference in myself these past few weeks. It's too freaking cold to ride right now. I have an indoor bike, but I really don't like it. It is a tremendous chore to get on it for as little as 15 minutes, and that is even with the help of Nextflix. But give me the outdoors and the trail, and I can go for well over an hour and enjoy every second. Find something you like to do, and then do it. If it is more fun and less chore, you'll soon see maintenance or even losing gets easier. I am not a doctor, but I can do the math.

196.7 Last week
198.0 Today

Food: D
Water: C
Vitamins: A
Exercise: F

Got some sort of bug yesterday. Woke up at 7:30 this morning with the chills. Weighed myself, and went back to bed. Just woke up to a damp bed from sweating. What the heck, I re weighed myself, and I'm a pound and a half down from three hours ago. Still not happy with the trnd, but just like the Browns, I know I will lose again :-)

Have a Happy, Healthy, Safe and Prosperous New Year!
-b0b

Thanks for the tip about the weigh in group.

Just so happens I weighed myself Sunday (night) after a day of binging with the intention of getting back on track Monday. Trying to get back on track before the traditional new year resolution.

Being on vacation, a house of junk food, processed food, liquor, holiday leftovers, is not helping. This week of reflection has helped me realize how far off track I've got this year. Looking forward to thinking before I eat and making better decisions about where my calories come from.

May this upcoming Sunday be my highest weight for 2018.

Consult weigh in 428

High weight - somewhere near there

Low weight post opp ~275

Current weight as of Sunday 327

Thanks to everyone who posts here.

Yesterday I weighed 180.

Normally Holdays do not mess up my food, but I struggled last night to not eat bad Holiday food.

Merry Christmas

I was afraid I might have to go AWOL this week, as I swelled up to 276 1/2 during the week, but dropped back down to 274, so down a pound from the last two weeks. The bad food has been in abundance, so I am happy to be where I am at.

Last week 275.0

This week 274.0

Merry Christmas everyone!