The Final Fifteen Pounds

On New Year's Day of 2020, I weighed 217. March 31st, I weigh 197. I didn't plan it, but here's how it happened. 1. I started doing intermittent fasting (I.F.). For me that means that I fast for about 18 hours every day and eat during a 6 hour time. Usually that means that my first meal of the day is at noon and I am done eating anything by 6 PM. I drink water, tea, or coffee during my fasting period. 2. I started walking. I like to walk for 30 minutes or more. Recently I have turned my walking into a basic HIIT workout by walking fast for 40 steps, then walking normally until I catch my breath. I do about 4 sets of those on my walk. Then, I just enjoy the rest of my walk. Eventually, I expect to build up to 7 sets or so. If I do too much, my joints hurt. 3. I quit eating grains and processed sugars. This was because my blood work showed that I was allergic to gluten. This has been the hardest change. After two weeks of eliminating the grains, I have more energ...

I went on a road trip just before the United States shut down. It was during my Spring Break. During that week the virus went from being casual conversation to the beginnings of the Great Shut Down. As I was driving home, the NBA shuttered for the season and Disneyland shut it's gates.  Just before the trip, I took a blood test and found out that I was allergic to gluten, oranges, and carrots. And that my body was highly sensitive to a host of other foods. I tried to stay away from those foods on the trip, but I didn't know how to plan for it yet.  Also, I did my Intermittent Fasting most of the days, but not all of them.  I gained 2 pounds back, weighing in at 202 or 203. Two weeks later, I'm weighing in at 196 - 197. I've lost about 5 pounds in 2 weeks. This is at a time that many Americans are gaining weight because they are sitting around watching T.V. The truth is that I'm sitting around a lot too. But I am still walking a little. Still it...

Okay, here's how it's working... First, I was advised to stop consuming foods with flour in them. That took a week before that sank in. And, I was told to fast 18 hours every day. So my first meal of the day every week has been lunch. I slipped up a little bit a couple of times. But I've kept to the fasting schedule. Results so far: I've lost 10 pounds in 16 days. Oh, and this is worth saying: I am a teacher. I walk 7000 plus steps a day. Most of that is in the classroom. There it is.

I have actually dropped 9 pounds. I wasn't expecting it. 2 weeks ago 215. Today, 206. I'm still not used to the fasting period. I do 18 hours of fasting and 6 where I can eat. On some days, I don't actually get the eating in that window. I've probably done more 17/7 than 18/6. I'm not horribly uncomfortable. I'm just so used to eating so often, that I want to keep doing it.

After years of struggling with my weight, I've started with intermittent fasting. I've been at it for about 8 or 9 days now and dropped from 215 to 208. Let's see what the next week holds! One way or another, it ought to be interesting.

We can't always get to our preferred place to workout. That's why I created a workout that teachers can do in their classroom. Here's how it worked for me yesterday.  Goal: exercise everyday. Couldn't. Due to an evening appointment, I was at school until 6:30 PM.  And my mind was tired. So I turned on the TV and got a little work done.  Commercial came on - I did push ups. Or squats.  I break my strength training routine into push days and pull days. Pushes are push ups, dips, squats. Pulls are pull ups, horizontal pull ups, and leg lifts. Yesterday was a push day. Today is a my-arms-and-chest-are-burning day. But in a good way. It's one way I know that my workout was effective. And even when my food is messy messy, I know I can work at keeping fit.  Right now the food is real messy. Lots of good input, but I'm struggling to really stay on a weight loss food routine. Exercises You Can Do In Your Classroom (or office?)... Squats -...

Ever just need a break? Working your brain to the bone (that just sounds weird) and not seeming to get anywhere. That's what I feel like with weight loss right now. I'm finding it very hard to focus on it.  I need some weight loss chats on Twitter or something.  I love education Twitter chats. I wonder if there are any good weight loss chats. Probably. It feel like I need to interact with other people on this to get better at it. That's the way teaching is for me. I interact and get good ideas, and I get better. Especially if I listen. I wanna weigh 173.  But the more I want it, the harder it is right now. Here's what I'm gunna do. Write down some ideas. Writing down all the ideas that come to my head. Do the ones I can just start. Next day, make another list. Write down all the ideas jump on me. Do the ones that say, "Right Now," to me. Review and reflect. Rinse and Repeat. I don't know. Maybe I'm making it too har...