the last five pounds
OK, so I’m finally feeling a bit more motivated about dropping five more pounds of fat. It’s harder to be motivated because I’m pretty satisfied with where I am.
But I’ll be turning 49 in just short of three weeks, and it occurred to me, wouldn’t it be cool to turn 49 weighing the same as I did at 29? I know the potential logical flaw in the thinking. I was a gym rat then, and if I were a sedentary person now, I could weigh the same but still be much fatter because of lower lean body mass.
But thanks to my return to the gym two years ago, I’ve regained my former muscle (and dropped the 30-plus pounds of fat I added between 35 and 46).
Maybe a bit of public accountability will help my campaign.
To help me keep track of what works, I keep daily records. On an Excel spreadsheet I track calories (three days of reduced calories, one maintenance day, and so on), and on a paper chart I note the date, whether I did my 30-minute dog walk, whether I worked out with weights, whether I did cardio, how many calories I consumed, my weight that day (I weigh probably once or twice a week), a skinfold measurement (I measure about once a week), and my lean body mass and bodyfat in pounds.
Tomorrow’s a maintenance day–what fun. On maintenance day I don’t usually count calories; I just eat pretty much whatever I want as long as it’s healthy and in reasonable portions. If I want something unhealthy (e.g., something sweet), I have a smallish portion. But usually all I want to do on maintenance day is enjoy regular food in slightly greater quantities.
I’ll keep you posted. I’d really like to celebrate my birthday in super shape.
