184.6.
I couldn’t believe what my fancy electronic scale read. I wanted to be like Garfield, furrow my brows, and call this stupid machine a liar. This past half a year has been a disaster for my health. Ever since I started my new project in New York, I’ve forgotten all about the semi-fit lifestyle I had before, and gained 10 pounds.
My MBA applications started in August and are just finished last Tuesday in January. This was a horrible joke of an excuse of not exercising for nearly half a year. However, my evil conscience did have a point: workout was a burden when all I could think about is how this time could benefit my applications. This ridiculous full year application ordeal is finally over with, and besides preparing for any interviews, it’s out of my hands.
So I made a plan to lose weight and get fit. I vow to follow through my plans for half a year to get even. My new health regime is based on 3 constructs:
1. Workout – my weight loss has been historically associated with running and smoothies. To be specific, smoothie + running in the morning = fitness and happiness. Therefore, this will continue. About a year ago, I tried to run long distance with Hal Hidgon’s 10K plan. It failed miserably. The Excel print-out of the plan followed me around in a unfavored jacket and bag pocket for about a few weeks until it started to disintegrate. I eventually threw it away as scrap. But my desire to run long distance has not changed, so this would be a good time for it. Therefore, construct 1 – running as main workout, with a plan to run a half marathon in under 23 months.
2. Alton Brown Diet – one of my favorite chefs, an idol and role model lost 50 pounds. I decided to follow what is now called the Alton Brown Diet. He claims that it is a non-diet, but it really is. The core component of the diet is a list of food that you must eat daily, 3 times weekly, and NEVER. Here it is: (hereafter called the AB LIST!):
Daily
- Fruits
- Whole Grains
- Leafy Greens
- Nuts
- Carrots
- Green Tea
3 times a week
- Oily Fish
- Yogurt
- Broccoli
- Sweet Potato
- Avocado
Once a week
- Red meat
- Pasta
- Dessert
- Alcohol
NEVER!
- Fast Food
- Soda
- Processed meals/frozen dinners
- Canned soup
- “Diet” anything
I can’t promise not drinking diet soda, but that’s a small alternation, right?
3. Lose It! iPhone calorie counter. This is one great app, and my alternation to Alton’s diet. Besides obeying THE AB LIST, I need to watch my calorie count. It makes me log my food intake, which can only add up to be 1345 calories daily. It logs my exercise, which gives me a credit on calories. Simple: the more I work out, the more I can eat. Other than that, no food is off limits. I can eat anything else I want, but I need to understand its calorie limits and see whether I want to trade off my other foods.
So thats it. This effort started Jan 20. I weighed in today at 181.4. I’ve been working out, and my appetite just got HUGE, and sticking to THE AB LIST and the calorie limit has been difficult but I committed to it. The morning smoothie is delicious, and I’ve got 2 recipes, which I will share at a later post. I love the fact that I get to eat steak/burger once a week (and took full advantage of that). Keep focused, keep happy, and keep going!
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