On Losing Weight: Time to Face the Music

So let's face it. I've been less than faithful to writing on my blog, especially about my weight loss activities. Anyone who follows my daily weigh-ins in the side bar can see that I have more or less kept up the same trend for the last three weeks. I spike into the lower 290's and dip into the mid 280's. I've done this three times now! What's the deal?

But Jeremy, didn't you just write a come to Jesus post about weigh gain three weeks ago?

Well, yes, I did, but that's not what this is about. This is about when to recognize that something is going wrong, and what to do about it...

I've not written lately because quite frankly, I didn't want to deal with the implications of my poor lifestyle choices of late. Sure, my mindset has slightly transitioned back to losing weight (when Brit and I went grocery shopping, we bought healthy stuff), and I have been at the very least going through the motions (biking three times per week instead of five, eating healthy cereal but three bowls full), but I've not been devoted to losing weight the way I have been previously.

Let's take another look at some factors in my life that contribute to the problem (also known as excuses):

• I have only half-heartedly stopped the bad eating habits and have been lackadaisical
  
• Work has been stressful lately because of some important projects
• I've not had optimized sleep in a while

The long and short of it is that I actually had to sit here and think about things that could be affecting my performance. The first item is certainly true, but it's not a cause, it's a restating of the problem. Work is a lousy excuse because biking IS stress relief for me and eating well only makes biking easier. Sleep, while a legitimate factor is also BS because if I were eating correctly and exercising regularly, the quality of my sleep improves dramatically.

So here we are on week three of the cycle, but the truth is I've not focused since June. My goal in May was to be under 270 by September. This was a VERY attainable goal, but due to my lack of focus since my surgery, I may be at risk of hitting it. I will have to lose 17 pounds in 25 days to hit this goal, which may or may not possible.

So what do I do now? That's still the easy part. I now have to really face the fact that I have been a total slacker. Period. There are no excuses good enough for why I haven't broken through my lowest weight in the last three weeks. I've been lazy. I've been apathetic. I've been unmotivated. The goal of losing weight has not been as important to me in the last several weeks. Why is that? Why do I choose to eat three bowls of cereal instead of one? Why don't I get on my bike and ride some? I know the answer has to do with my mood, but that now has to stop.

I'm writing this post today because I now have to admit something to myself. The last time I wrote a post like this, I was saying "hey, no big deal, just get back on the horse!". Well, I never really made it. By writing this post, I am forcing myself to face the music; to face that I have a problem right now. I have encountered a mental wall. There. I said it. Let's move on.

I am correct. I do have the tools and the knowledge and the attitude to get "back on track", but I need something more than those this time. Biking and eating well were two things that used to make me very happy, but they are not bringing me the joy they once did. My new tactic is simple. The thing that used to bring me joy must now become mechanical in nature. I must become something that I simply do with no interruptions. No excuses. Living a healthy life style must now be as mechanical as going to work can be. I'm no longer giving myself a say in the matter.

I am also choosing to make some modifications to my cycling activities. As punishment , I have added two extra laps to my daily trek around the neighborhood, increasing calorie consumption, and hopefully rebuilding lost stamina at a quicker pace.

The good news is that in one to two weeks I should be back at a place mentally where I feel joy from my efforts. Until then, I'll have to keep fighting the good fight!