Last week I asked the hopeful question, “Back on Track?” This week I answer it with an emphatic, “No.” The reasons are clear as sugar free Jell-O. I’m still eating too much.
Want a donut? Sure! How about a package of cookies? Why not! Here’s a forty-seven inch pizza, interested? Let me get my bib!
As much as it pains me to say it: this has all the earmarks of The Switch getting flipped off. I’m acutely aware of the symptoms, having been through this, oh, around ninety times before. So I’m probably not wrong about this. I’m amazed I made it forty weeks: that alone might actually be a record.
Of course, I can hear you all now.
No, Charlie! Don’t say that! You’re doing so well! You eat cheeseburgers and lose weight! You’re an inspiration to us all! Don’t give up now!
Well, the good news is, I’m not “giving up.” The bad news is, “I don’t actually have a say in this.” I’ve previously attempted to explain my reasoning behind this here and here. The theories still need a lot of work, but I believe I’m heading in the right direction.
It’s a tough pill to swallow. I’m keenly aware of that because we absolutely can’t stand the thought that we’re not in complete and total control of the 7×1027 hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon atoms that make up our bodies. Be that as it may, the theory does explain everything from mindless eating to war to reality television.
So my hope now is that The Switch gets back on. Er, I take that back. My hope is for a zero-calorie cheeseburger someday. But until then, I’ll just hope that my little oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon buddies decide to lay off the damn Cheez-Its for a while.
Time for last week’s stats! First of all, check out this side-by-side graph of the past two weeks, and you’ll see where this post title came from. Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the worst dieter of them all?
| Week 40 | |
| Starting Weight | 224.0 |
| Current Weight | 196.9 |
| Change from Last Week | -0.3 |
| Lost So Far | 27.1 |
Click on that for a full version. It’s almost spooky. Oddly enough, although the trend is up, I’m still down three tenths of a pound from the week prior. Gotta love my new “one week average” approach. It can save me from an anomalous spike and make an entire up-week look like a loss! Hooray for math.
on May 4, 2009 at 12:54 am
I keep losing the same 5 or 6 pounds over and over again. I know I’m eating way too many carbs.
on May 4, 2009 at 6:39 am
So true! One of the most depressing things for me about trying to lose weight right now is knowing that I’ve never managed to keep the weight off when I’ve taken off pounds before. Like Warren Buffett says about investing, the most dangerous words about dieting are “This time it’s different.”
on May 4, 2009 at 12:46 pm
My only hope at this point is that warmer weather will somehow depress my appetite. It usually works that way – at least a little.
Also I gave up wine (again!). I’d done well with that until a forgiven lapse for a college reunion morphed into a several week “I need these wine bottles empty for a bottle tree” stint.
I plan on 1 (one!) beer with a Cinco de Mayo dinner (on Seis de Mayo but whatev) and that is IT until Further Notice. Potentially. Yeah. I think my switch is off, too. Sigh…
on May 4, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I think it’s in the air. I’ve been eating like crazy too. I’ve been getting enough activity to have it balance out, but it just feels rough to run 20 miles a week plus all the other stuff I do, and not lose any weight. The good news is when I do go through these “switched off” periods, and then get switched back on – my metabolism is totally revved up and I lose weight quickly when I’m really trying.
Just thinking about it makes me hungry…
on May 4, 2009 at 6:31 pm
DON’T GIVE UP! It is so easy to give in after a bad few days of eating, but you are stronger and can overcome the bad days. I find that after a few good days that it gets much easier. Of course you could probably call me a hypocrite right now because as I type I’m telling myself the same thing. I have not been making the greatest of choices and need to get myself back together for sure. We can do this!!!