Everything is bigger in Montana

We went to Montana this past week to visit Grandma and Grandpa. We had a good time! And I climbed up to 172 lbs. from 167! Oof.

I'm finding that weight control is indeed a matter of self control and discipline. I've tried an experiment the last couple weeks where I don't adhere strictly to counting calories or following a particular diet plan. Instead I have been eating (mostly) healthy foods but not paying attention to portion sizes or times of day. This hasn't work well for me for weight loss. Evidently I eat more than I think, and end up holding steady or gaining slightly.

So, it looks like my best strategy for losing weight is to have a strict plan that I adhere to. Sounds obvious, yes. I suppose that most prescriptions are obvious.

Plateau

I'm still steady at 168.x lbs.

Hey, is that a neck?

More measured, steady progress. I'm at 168.4 lbs today. That's coming up on 10 lbs off from my starting weight. I think I see a neck in these last photos.

Business Trips Don't Help Weight Loss

So, I participated in a week long business trip at a few different locations on the East coast this past week. It is *really* hard to maintain an eating regimen when flight schedules, meeting schedules, and lack of healthy options are all there to prevent it. I did alright though, and tried to get the best option available at meal times.

Back on the scale, despite the last week being all over the board, I'm steady at 171.2 lbs.

No pictures this week.

Plateau

So, I'm hovering here at about 171 lbs. That's probably due to my loose adherence to the diet. It's amazing how a seemingly small series of indulgences can make an impact. Discipline is key.

I'm psyching myself up to pick up jogging on the treadmill again. I had let it go in the late fall when I got a sinus infection.

I've been following (mostly) the diet recommendations of an app called personal dietitian. The general idea is to feed your body healthful foods that represent less calories than your body, given your lifestyle, will consume. But balance that with enough calories so that your body doesn't wig out and think that you're starving. When that happens your body will start storing as many calories as it can in the form of fat to fend off the starvation. I'm sure that's been my issue all along... :)

Here's How It Is

The diet alterations are working out well. I'm at 171.8 lbs which is about 3 lbs less than when I started 2 weeks ago. I'm pleased so far. And because you demanded it, I dressed down (fashionwise not clothingwise) to record my visage this morning. Here you go:

So far, so good

So, I've been following a meal plan for the last few days and have lost a pound and a half. That puts me at 173.5 lbs.

Bethany and I are also committing ourselves to abstain from fizzy drinks for the year.