When I first had the idea for my Harry Potter series of posts, it sounded like a good idea. But little did I know when I began eight weeks ago that:
- It wouldn’t be as much fun to write as I thought.
- It went on for what felt like a year.
- It would cost me my remaining eight readers.
Of course, all of those issues pale in comparison to the real lesson I learned: writing about Harry Potter makes you gain weight. A lot. Let’s take a look.
This first chart represents the span of time from Day One #104 back on August 15, 2010 until I gave up back on May 2 of this year. The gray area on the right represents (feeble) Attempt #105.
I dropped from 224 to about 217 fairly quickly, then stayed around 217 for the remainder of the attempt. I’m sure all zero of you out there are dying to know what happened next. Well, let me tell you:
- On May 9, 2011 my weight broke back into the 220s. You know, that point I said I’d never go back to the last time I dropped below 220.
- On June 6, 2011 my weight officially surpassed my Day One #105 starting point. (To be honest, I was surprised it took as long as a month.)
- When I left on vacation before the fourth of July holiday, I hit 229.5. I thought, “That’s okay, at least I didn’t break into the 230s again.”
- When I returned from vacation, I was 233.
So you can see how I arrived at the only logical conclusion. Writing posts about Harry Potter is bad for your waistline. Here’s what the full graph looks like:
The good news is by the time I got back from vacation one week ago, I was more than ready to get back on the wagon. The bad news is, I’m starting from square one. Again. While this isn’t the heaviest I’ve ever been, it’s still worth noting that out of the 4,951 entries in my weight tracking spreadsheet (going back to 1990—no humorous exaggerations here) there are only 65 entries with weights above 233. The last time was four and a half years ago:
So Attempt #106 began last week, July 11, 2011 and ended July 14, 2011 in a large bucket of movie theater popcorn. Just kidding. I survived the popcorn and Week One is now behind me (details to follow). In the meantime, however, I have a very strongly worded letter to write to Ms. J. K. Rowling.
on July 18, 2011 at 6:43 am
Hey Charlie,
Sorry about your weight gain, you certainly are allergic to Harry Potter….lol
Apologies again, as I’ve never read a book or seen a movie, so your posts went over my head.
Good to see you’re on the wagon again. I think for most of us with weight issues its a life long battle. I’ve been hopping on and off it throughout summer, but seem to have maintained. I find I diet better in the winter 🙂
Good luck………again 😉
Anna 😀
on July 18, 2011 at 6:47 am
Wow – there ought to be a warning label on the books/movies (probably have it already in California…they are so UP on all that sort of thing).
I feel you on the weight ride. I read Taub’s stuff on why diets don’t work (a bit like your book only not at all funny and way more sciencey) and am therefore back on the low carb wagon.
And….finally…..after nearly 10 months of little to no progress calorie counting, with the low carb menu am now within 7 pounds of my ideal (never thought I’d get there again!) weight.
I know you’ve done low carb before. And it worked for you. Have you read any of the newer stuff on why they say it works? I’m convinced….
on July 18, 2011 at 7:20 am
You may have lost me for the Harry Potter series but I’ll never go completely away.
Count me in the heathen group who has not read/seen Harry Potter or any of the Star Wars movies.
Good luck with #105!
on July 18, 2011 at 8:17 am
@Anna: You haven’t read or seen any Harry Potter? But . . . but you live like within walking distance of Hogwarts, don’t you? I thought reading HP was legally required on your side of the pond.
@Deb: Within 7 pounds? Yay! Good luck on the rest!
@Helen: What about Lord of the Rings? You’ve at least seen that, right?
on July 18, 2011 at 9:59 am
Hi Charlie!
I’ve kept checking in but Harry Potter doesn’t appeal to me. Read the first book and didn’t get all the hype. Now Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia and Star Wars – all good series.
Good luck on this re-start!! No more Harry Potter to throw you off!
on July 20, 2011 at 3:22 pm
You can do it Charlie!! But I may have some movie theater popcorn tonight with Hannah 😀
on July 23, 2011 at 9:05 pm
I feel ya. I fought hard for the 110 and over the last 2 years, I’ve regained 20 and some change. I’d like to blame a promotion and being in charge of more shit at work, but really? I just got tired of eating like a saint and thought racing and training could mitigate it. Guess what? It can’t.
I’ve brought out the big guns now – a nutritionist. We’re trying some new things that I never would have… but seems to be doing good things. Good luck.
And having a million day 1s is better than not trying at all… 🙂
on July 30, 2011 at 8:55 am
Good luck getting back at it Charlie, I’m right there with ya. Tough.
on July 30, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Good to see you back at it, John!