Some of you who saw me at ALA in New Orleans realize that I have lost some weight. And, if you talked to me, you know that it was on purpose. After Midwinter, I saw my physician, and he yelled at me...well as much as he has ever done. I weighed more than I ever had in my life, and about 20 of those pounds were between August 2005 and February 2006.
He put me on the right path.
No more seconds. No more snacks. Almost no more alcoholic drinks. Drink at least a liter of water every day (preferably before about 2 pm) ... my Nalgene packed with ice each morning helps. Smaller portions, too. Instead of a whole chicken breast, 1/2 of one for dinner. Am I hungry? You bet! But I drink water, and that helps.
Since February I have gone from almost 270 pounds down to .... [drum roll please] 218 pounds. That was after today's bike ride. A little more than a week ago, I started the exercise portion. I purchased bike shorts, and am riding several miles on my "street bike." It was the top of the line when I bought it in the spring of 1976 (to replace one which was three years old and was stolen at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign). It is a Raleigh Grand Prix, ten speed, and it works just fine, thank you. [The model name is still used for a road bike. Here is what it looks like now.]
I looked up the BMI (Body Mass Index) charts from one of the NIH sites, and find that after all that work, I have merely gone from "Obese" to "Overweight." My goal...."Normal" which for me is 194. That's only 22 more pounds!
One benefit became clear this week when my wife brought up from the basement some suits which I had "outgrown." I now have a great tan cashmere sports coat (waiting for fall) and two new suits. When I looked at the label of one of them, I realized that the last time I wore these was in about 1992! That's when G. Fox became Filene's (which is now Macy's).
Look out world, here comes a skinnier me. And you know what? It has not really cost me any more than having a couple of suits altered--to be smaller. No fancy diet foods. No health club memberships. Just pure common sense. I'll drink to that...if it is water!
[Links added Monday 7/17 10:30 am]
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