We’re halfway done. Four weeks in, four to go. In the next month-ish, I’ll be completing this challenge, moderating at WordCamp, speaking at TEDxScottsdale, attending a lot of spring training games, finishing a book (publishing, fingers crossed) and getting married.
This is either Jason Newlin's or my after picture.
No problem, right? While my previous list seems doable, there are a few more things I’m changing about my lifestyle. First, I’m tired of craving Diet Coke in the afternoons. I’m tired of running to Circle K to buy two, 20-ounce bottles for $2.50. I’m tired of the havoc this semi-poisonous, fake sugar water has on my digestive system. I’m tired of feeling addicted (which I totally am). For the next month, at least until the end of this competition on March 19, it’s time to say goodbye to Diet Coke. I love ya, but you just don’t do anything for me.
Quitting is going to be hard. And that's from an ex-smoker.
Seeing as how I’m using calorie counting to watch my weight, Diet Coke has had a negligible impact on my body composition efforts so far. I’m sure it makes me retain water, but as far as actual fat, Diet Coke has not been a factor in my ongoing struggle to be a super-hot, 190-lb 30-something*. It’s time to say goodbye to another dear friend, too.
Goodbye, air-popped popcorn. Seeing as how I broke up with microwave popcorn a month ago, this next step would seem easy. Just don’t eat any, right? Sure, until I realize that my main snack—I mean my every day, sometimes twice a day—is eight cups of popcorn with spray-on, fake butter. I eat popcorn in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon and almost always at night. Usually eight cups per day, sometimes double that, but no more and certainly no less.
Also, air-popped popcorn never pops correctly in this humidity.
But, like pretzels before and Diet Coke now, I eat popcorn because I’m used to eating popcorn. My body and personality tend to be very addictive—I’ve eaten the same thing for breakfast for over a year now—and I hate thinking I NEED something. I have similar issues with prescription and recreational drugs, but have found their benefits to be a big positive. Popcorn, besides hurting my teeth, gums and jaw, does nothing of the sort. It’s time to say goodbye.
Thanks to LoseIt, I know that I can only eat 1787 calories per day (more if I exercise) and lose about two pounds per week. While I’m happy with this rate of loss, I can’t help but think that those 1787 calories should come from something nutritious and filling, rather than seltzer water, fake-sweetened syrup, warmed kernels and a whole lot of creamy-looking fake butter stuff.
Is all this worth the $3,000 prize? Well, last week I realized that the straight-leg 7 For All Mankind jeans that Katie loves on me and I love wearing are a size 34 waist. And they require me to wear a 36 belt on the fourth loop. My gut doesn’t hurt as much when I wear belt buckles and I no longer have to lean back while at a desk to prevent angry red marks on my waist.
Is all this nitpicking? Am I really not as overweight as I think I am? Depends on how you compare yourself to, I suppose. Any my model isn’t this guy:
*My weight loss reasons include being able to tuck in shirts without any shame, wear belt buckles without pain and run longer distances with less effort. The point isn’t necessarily to lose weight, but to lose fat and gain muscle.
