An Essay On Weight Loss

While I am only just over four months in to my official weight loss journey, things are already slowly starting to seem like night and day when comparing today, to back in April or May. Over the past few years, I put on drastic amounts of weight, ever since I got sober almost three years ago. It was a weight gain that was absolutely horrific, and I was six pounds away from being 300 pounds. For a person who is 5’6, that absolutely bothered me when it came to the future of my health . Fast forward to now and here we are, just over four months into my journey of renewed health. So, what does it look like now, after a summer of extremely hard work? What is the bulk of this story about?

It was back on Memorial Day weekend, and a picture of me had been taken at a family barbeque dinner. The photograph, to say the least was absolutely awful. I easily passed for a human blimp. The picture looked so horrific, that it actually looked fake. As if my face was copy and pasted onto another big body. But no, that was not the case. It was me. And I looked absolutely unhealthy, and morbidly obese. No one can take offense to how I tell this story. Because it’s nothing but the truth.

It wasn’t the first time I had seen a cringeworthy photograph. At that time there were others over those winter and spring months. But it was this one that’s shock value seemed the worst.

There was a time many years ago, where I spent around 16 months losing 100+ pounds and becoming an avid runner. And while I have no plans to go that extreme, at least for now, I decided to consider the same techniques I did back then, to start losing weight on a consistent basis. It was the only plan I knew, plus it was basic and scientific.

As I explain my process for losing weight, I want to strongly stress to my readers that this was not any type of fad process. It is not avoiding carbs, it’s not any kind of keto diet, and it isn’t a plan that says bread is the enemy. Because that is anything but the case. Not only do I not avoid carbs, it is actually carbs which represent 50% of my daily calorie intake. The 50 30 20 plan.

50% calories from carbs, 30% from fat, and 20% protein (any more protein you’re just wasting).

I still snack every night, and eat anything I really want as long as it is done in a moderate degree. I control portion size, and I eat exactly what I need in calories, not less, not more. It is calories that dictate weight gain and loss. Not atkins, keto, or other silly ideas. My exercise is stepped up big time, however without the proper calories, exercise would mean nothing. Because remember what they say;

One of my major handicaps now is certain medications which often had a side effect of initiating heavy eating and weight gain. And although I would have liked to have lost more by now, I am still sitting at a weight loss hovering between 40 and 45 pounds. And with the time frame being memorial day until now, I can confidently say that I am moving at a great pace.

I think the best part of a journey like this, is when you realize that you have remained consistent in your new habits for such a period of time, that the new habits now become permanent habits.

What seemed so impossible to get to, is now the place that seems to be the only option.

Many experts say that it takes about three weeks to make a new habit. While I personally think it may sometimes take a bit longer, there is still nothing better then being so tied into a new habit of eating and exercise routine. It comes a better and better situation, where it becomes more difficult to cheat, and it feel worse too. Now sometimes I may tend to find myself with a bit of an OCD type of feeling, which kicks in, if I dare take one bite of a treat.

For anyone out there who may be struggling with timelines when it comes to weight loss, I will say that if you are looking to improve health, remove calendars from your journey, at least for the first couple of months. I can relate when you work very hard and you start jumping on the scales twice a day too soon. You’re just not going to lose ten pounds a week. At least not in the most healthy of ways.

What do I recommend? The 45 day challenge. Start a new healthy journey of eating and exercising, and after day one, touch no scale, until day 45. And while doing that, also cheat not once in those 45 days. You’ll be happy with the results.

For me, I am a bit more extreme, as I plan not one cheat day still, until probably around Christmas. And who knows, I’ll still likely fret a bit on that Christmas day, but deep down I will know, that I deserve a few extra desserts when that day comes.

The End

is a Trenton, New Jersey Author, Publisher, Columnist, Editor, Advocate, and recovering addict, covering topics of mental health, addiction, sobriety, mindfulness, self-help, faith, spirituality, Smart Recovery, social advocacy, and countless other nonfiction topics. His articles, publications, memoirs, and stories are geared towards being a voice for the voiceless. Hoping to reach others out there still struggling.

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