Some of you may remember a Battlefords Vignettes article I wrote a few months ago.
It was a chronicle about my battle of the bulge. In it I laid bare my soul and through a partnership with Lisa McEachern at Northern Athletic Club I set a goal. By my 54th birthday in September, I vowed to weight 154 pounds - a healthy weight for someone of my stature and age.
My pace was to be gradual, one or two pounds per week. My method was to be an alteration of a couple of bad habits along with a regular fitness program. Lisa was to be the higher power I had to account to each week.
I've done great. Since beginning my journey in November I've lost about 30 pounds. That's the good news. The bad news about 15 of those pounds are the same three lost over and over again over the past few weeks.
Yes, folks, I've hit the dreaded plateau. After making steady progress to a low of 161 pounds I've stalled. Not only that, I've backslid. I have only myself to blame. As anyone who has taken this journey can tell you, it is so easy to fall back into bad habits when you've made some progress.
Here are a couple of personal observations. I feel great. I'm toned, my cardio vascular fitness is probably the best it's ever been. I think I look better and a couple of the younger women at the gym have commented on my progress. I'm resting on my laurels.
And I've regressed to using my stressful, deadline driven, crazy, insane job as an excuse for bad behaviour.
Lisa and I have been struggling with this conundrum for a few weeks now, and she suggested having to lay out my progress to a larger "higher power" (the readers) might be the jolt I need to get back on track. Let's hope it works, because this is rather frightening. I could fall flat on my face (or my fat fanny) in front of a whole lot of folks, not just have to fork over $5 to Lisa for every pound I gain.
So, if you can stand it, stay tuned. At last week's weigh in I was at 162.5, down 3.5 from the previous week's tally of 166. I have eight pounds to lose.
My tools on this journey include a journal, where I apply what I learned from Weight Watchers to my food intake and where I keep track of my fitness regimen, as well as set goals for the week and outline any challenges I'll be facing during the week.
I attend a noon hour boot camp session twice a week and on a normal week also train with Keith at NAC once a week. This being a "short week" I won't get to hang with Keith, but I'm sure he'll make up for it at our next session.
I try to walk with pals every evening and this weekend I took in a bonus boot camp session on the beach at Cochin. Thanks Ernie! That was a hoot! I also rototilled and planted my garden. I also indulged in some sinning, so have to shape up big time to atone for that.
Lisa's comments.
