7-19-scale

Back in September of 2007 I was weighing in at about 195 pounds.  I had dropped 25 pounds from my all-time high of 220 by merely cutting out ALL high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated fats from my diet.  I was still eating my normal big portions, but I seriously started looking at ingredients more than ever before.  It worked.  Without a lot of effort, I dropped the pounds.

And then I quit smoking.

The pounds started creeping on…

And on.  And on…

It’s pretty much a given that we gain weight when we quit smoking.  I was prepared for it.  Unfortunately, I didn’t do anything about it.  The pounds kept going on, the clothes kept getting tighter, and I continued to go on as if nothing was different.  Except I noticed I was starting to move slower.  It was taking more energy to do simple things.

Ignorance, of course, is bliss.  If I don’t know how much I really weigh, I don’t have to do anything about it, right?!?  I had avoided the scale for months.  Until yesterday morning when I finally got up the nerve.  238.4 pounds.  That was my limit.  I officially knew.  I now had to officially do something about it.

It’s not too much of a secret that I love to cook and I use butter and cream with abandon, but my problem isn’t nearly as much about what I eat as it is about how much I eat. The foods we eat are relatively good, in and of themselves – there’s a great variety, it’s minimally processed, it’s as chemical-free as can be…  Blood pressure is perfect, cholesterol is a bit high, but the LDL/HDL ratio is good.  I just eat too much.

It’s always been a bit of a joke that at any given moment, the neighborhood could drop in for dinner unannounced, and there’d not only be enough foods to feed them, but to give doggie bags, as well.  And that is where a big part of my challenge lies – in cooking smaller quantities and portion control.

The other part is getting a bit more exercise. Besides eating way too much, I’m lazy.

7-19-scale

So… last night we went out and bought a treadmill.  Yes, I know I can go outside and walk.  I also know that I may walk around the block, but I’m not going to break a sweat doing it.  I’m a smell-the-flowers-leisurely-stroll kinda guy.  The treadmill, however, MAKES me speed up, walk up inclines, slow down, all this stuff…  I can even create customized programs and just plug them in and let the machine take over.  And I can create iPod playlists to keep me upbeat and motivated!  There’s finally no excuse.

So…

We’re about to embark on a journey…

A journey of good food, and a bit of exercise,  while still eating dessert every night AND losing weight.

I want to lose 50 pounds.  I think it can be done.

Tomorrow officially starts Day One.