check out my new health and life goals blog at http://www.diethealthlifegoals.wordpress.com

I am a classic yo-yo dieter: gain a stone, lose a stone, gain it back again. But, unlike some yo-yo dieters, I prefer cooking to ordering a take-away, and I am happy eating a salad. The problem I have is always the same: when my routine gets disrupted, for even a few days, everything falls apart — my working out, my eating. It’s crazy, but I am 100% with my routine, or 0%. Perhaps I’ve got a personality disorder! Haha! I’m like that for everything, I find: all in or nothing. But I’m not sure what to do about that. And this is what happened with my previous program; unavoidable stuff came up, I promptly folded after my routine was disrupted.

However, there is an even more pressing issue I have had to come to realise over the last couple of months.

My weight goes up, my weight goes down. Sure, classic yo-yo. But just like Bitcoin*, it never goes as low as it was last time, and it peaks higher than ever before. Unfortunately, unlike Bitcoin where more pounds (of money) is better, my increased pounds (of weight) is killing me.

Wait, what?

What I’m saying is that I used to cycle between 12 and 13 stone. Then it was 13 and 14 stone. Then 15 and 16 — that was three or so years ago. Then it was 15st 7lb to 17st. But over the last year, I have been hitting new peaks: I am currently 17 stone 10 pounds. What the hell!?

I can’t be content with this situation. Because now when I am at the low, “thin” point of my yo-yo, I am still fatter than ever before. Whereas before, my “thin” actually was — thin!

So I have two points to work on within myself from here on in. How do you guys handle these points?

1. I need to prevent blips to my routine derailing me for months or years at a time. Y’know, those times when you have to eat unhealthily, or not go to the gym, such as weddings, celebrations, holidays, and so forth.
2. I think these time limited programs I have constructed (e.g. 13 Week Wedding Weight Loss) are not really helping me make the long-term, abiding changes to my routines that I need to. The reason is that whilst the time limit is SMART, when I miss a couple of weekly targets, I get down about it and just fall off the waggon as it all seems too insurmountable again.

From now on in, I’m just going to have a regular (say, fortnightly) health daybook. I’ll have my long term goals, but I won’t time limit them. I’ll just go slow and steady so as to not let missed weekly targets get me down.

*Let’s see how it takes for this reference to no longer be true!

© 2017 Bryan A. J. Parry

featured image from check out my new health and life goals blog at http://www.diethealthlifegoals.wordpress.com

check out my new health and life goals blog at http://www.diethealthlifegoals.wordpress.com

Introduction / Background

Earlier this year, my weight peaked at 16st 12lb (236lb). I had never been so fat. And I felt it. With a family wedding looming, and having a Body Mass of over 30 (= “Obese Class 1”), I decided to take action and sort my life out. Hence, I went on a 13 Week Wedding Weight Loss program (weeks: 1 2 3 4 5 7 9 10 11 12 13). Click here for a quick explanation of the ins-and-outs, but the short of it is this: having a Body Mass of over 30 in a suit at a wedding in the sun in Spain is not a good look!

I lost weight and, whilst I didn’t reach my target, I made serious steps towards it and learnt a lot along the way.

Now I have another wedding in twelve four weeks’ time. So I’ve decided to not only carry on trying to fulfil my short-term weight goals, but to move towards the next phase in the transformation of me. 12 Week Wedding Weight Loss will be about achieving Phase 2: getting my weight to the ideal of 13st 7lb. I am currently 15st 11.2lb 16st 5.2lb. The long term goal is to not just get to and maintain a healthy weight, but to get seriously fit. But I’m jumping the gun: that’s Phase 3!

I therefore aimed to lose 32.2 pounds in twelve weeks, a loss of just under 2.7lbs a week. However, my program has slipped due to my inability to manage my snacking during a stressful period of my life, and I would now need to lose 6.7lb a week to stay on track.

Last week

Well, what a disaster(!) Remember those unspecified “life stresses” I mentioned in week 4? Eating was/is my coping mechanism. I’ve been struggling; keeping up a good routine when under pressure is clearly not something I have cracked yet. General diet isn’t bad, but extra booze and cakes has wrecked it.

I’m worse than at any point since the dark days of May. And I have breached the psychologically important weight of 16 stone, leaving me feeling like, ‘What is the point?’

Plus, it looks like I won’t be able to make the wedding after all for certain reasons — and thus the crucial motivating factor has been taken out of the equation since about a month ago.

Next week

My original target of 13st 7lb (189lb) by the 14th October is well and truly blown. I would now need to lose 6.7lb a week — this is not sustainable or healthy. Or realistic! Setting yourself up with unrealistic goals is the worst as the crushing disappointing when you fail derails you completely.

I need to get below 16 stone ASAP as that is quite an important milestone for me. So let’s make that my goal: by Monday 11th September I need to be 15st 13.99lb or below!

• week 0 (last week): 10/07/2017: 15st 13lb (223lb)
• week 1: 17/07/17: 15st 11.2lb (221.2lb)
• week 2: 24/07/17: 15st 13.2lb (223.2lb)
• week 3: 31/07/17: 15st 12.2lb (222.2lb)
• week 4: 07/08/17: 15st 9.2lb (219.2lb)
• week 5: 14/08/17: 15st 11lb (221lb)
• week 6: 21/08/17: 15st 12lb (222lb)
• week 7: 28/08/17: 15st 13.6lb (223.6lb)
• week 8: 04/09/17: 16st 5.2lb (229.2lb)
• GOAL: 14/10/17: 13st 7lb (189lb)

© 2017 Bryan A. J. Parry

featured image from https://hansimann.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/sisyphus_by_o__v-d66ox90.png

check out my new health and life goals blog at http://www.diethealthlifegoals.wordpress.com

Introduction

Earlier this year, my weight peaked at 16st 12lb (236lb). I had never been so fat. And I felt it. With a family wedding looming, and having a Body Mass of over 30 (= “Obese Class 1”), I decided to take action and sort my life out. Hence, I went on a 13 Week Wedding Weight Loss program (weeks: 1 2 3 4 5 7 9 10 11 12 13). Click here for a quick explanation of the ins-and-outs, but the short of it is this: having a Body Mass of over 30 in a suit at a wedding in the sun in Spain is not a good look!

I lost weight and, whilst I didn’t reach my target, I made serious steps towards it and learnt a lot along the way.

Now I have another wedding in twelve nine weeks’ time. So I’ve decided to not only carry on trying to fulfil my short-term weight goals, but to move towards the next phase in the transformation of me. 12 Week Wedding Weight Loss will be about achieving Phase 2: getting my weight to the ideal of 13st 7lb. I am currently 15st 11.2lb 15st 9.2lb. The long term goal is to not just get to and maintain a healthy weight, but to get seriously fit. But I’m jumping the gun: that’s Phase 3!

I therefore aimed to lose 32.2 pounds in twelve weeks, a loss of just under 2.7lbs a week. However, my program has slipped and I now need to lose 3.4lb a week to stay on track.

Last week

Well, I’ve seriously got back on track from the disasters that were weeks one and two. Some serious stress came my way; you know how life can be. Eating was/is my coping mechanism. I didn’t quite meet my target weight loss of 3.2lb this week, but I was pretty close; I lost 3lb. Sadly, I still weigh more than I did before the wedding — five weeks ago! What an expensive week of revelry that has proved to be for my general fitness.

Next week

To reach my target of 13st 7lb (189lb) by the 14th October, I now need to lose 3.4lb a week. The amount I need to lose in order to meet my target is slowly creeping up — if I don’t sort this out soon, it will be impossible to healthily reach my goal weight. In order to stay on track, I aim to be 15st 5.8lb (215.8lb) by next Monday. Here’s a chart of my weight beginning with the previous program (13 Week Wedding Weight Loss).

• week 0 (last week): 10/07/2017: 15st 13lb (223lb)
• week 1: 17/07/17: 15st 11.2lb (221.2lb)
• week 2: 24/07/17: 15st 13.2lb (223.2lb)
• week 3: 31/07/17: 15st 12.2lb (222.2lb)
• week 4: 07/08/17: 15st 9.2lb (219.2lb)
• GOAL: 14/10/17: 13st 7lb (189lb)

© 2017 Bryan A. J. Parry

featured image from https://hansimann.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/sisyphus_by_o__v-d66ox90.png

check out my new health and life goals blog at http://www.diethealthlifegoals.wordpress.com

Introduction

Earlier this year, my weight peaked at 16st 12lb (236lb). I had never been so fat. And I felt it. With a family wedding looming, and having a Body Mass of over 30 (= “Obese Class 1”), I decided to take action and sort my life out. Hence, I went on a 13 Week Wedding Weight Loss program (weeks: 1 2 3 4 5 7 9 10 11 12 13). Click here for a quick explanation of the ins-and-outs, but the short of it is this: having a Body Mass of over 30 in a suit at a wedding in the sun in Spain is not a good look!

I lost weight and, whilst I didn’t reach my target, I made serious steps towards it and learnt a lot along the way.

Now I have another wedding in twelve ten weeks’ time. So I’ve decided to not only carry on trying to fulfil my short-term weight goals, but to move towards the next phase in the transformation of me. 12 Week Wedding Weight Loss will be about achieving Phase 2: getting my weight to the ideal of 13st 7lb. I am currently 15st 11.2lb 15st 12.2lb. The long term goal is to not just get to and maintain a healthy weight, but to get seriously fit. But I’m jumping the gun: that’s Phase 3!

I therefore aimed to lose 32.2 pounds in twelve weeks, a loss of just under 2.7lbs a week.

Last week

Week two was an unmitigated disaster. Some serious stress came my way; you know how life can be. I don’t smoke, I don’t do drugs, I don’t shop; when I need stress relief, my crutch is food! Therefore, I gained four pounds. However, this last week, I stabilised the rocking boat. And, whilst I didn’t lose the weight I wanted to, I didn’t put any on either. I lost 1 lb, which is better than nothing.

Next week

To reach my target of 13st 7lb (189lb) by the 14th October, I need to lose 3.2lb a week. Therefore, I aim to be 15st 9lb (219lb). Here’s a chart of my weight beginning with the previous program (13 Week Wedding Weight Loss).

• week 0 (last week): 10/07/2017: 15st 13lb (223lb)
• week 1: 17/07/17: 15st 11.2lb (221.2lb)
• week 2: 24/07/17: 15st 13.2lb (223.2lb)
• week 3: 31/07/17: 15st 12.2lb (222.2lb)
• GOAL: 14/10/17: 13st 7lb (189lb)

© 2017 Bryan A. J. Parry

featured image from https://hansimann.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/sisyphus_by_o__v-d66ox90.png

check out my new health and life goals blog at http://www.diethealthlifegoals.wordpress.com

Introduction

Earlier this year, my weight peaked at 16st 12lb (236lb). I had never been so fat. And I felt it. With a family wedding looming, and having a Body Mass of over 30 (= “Obese Class 1”), I decided to take action and sort my life out. Hence, I went on a 13 Week Wedding Weight Loss program (weeks: 1 2 3 4 5 7 9 10 11 12 13). Click here for a quick explanation of the ins-and-outs, but the short of it is this: having a Body Mass of over 30 (= “Obese Class 1”) in a suit at a wedding in the sun in Spain is not a good look!

I lost weight and, whilst I didn’t reach my target, I make serious steps towards it and learnt a lot along the way.

Now I have another wedding in twelve weeks’ time. So I’ve decided to not only carry on trying to fulfil my short-term weight goals, but to move towards the next phase in the transformation of me. 12 Week Wedding Weight Loss will be about achieving Phase 2: getting my weight to the ideal of 13st 7lb. I am currently 15st 11.2lb. The long term goal is to not just get to and maintain a healthy weight, but to get seriously fit. But I’m jumping the gun: that’s Phase 3!

I therefore aim to lose 32.2 pounds in twelve weeks, a loss of just under 2.7lbs a week.

Last week

Last week was the week after 13 Week Wedding Weight Loss finished, but the week before starting my new 12 week program; basically, it was me trying to settle back into the country and my normal routine. I always find coming back from holiday to be the end of all my best laid plans; the routine goes right out the window. But as it happens, despite a slightly erratic week where I struggled to get back into the swing of things, I still lost 1.8lbs.

Next week

I aim to lose 2.7lb a week. So I hope to be 15st 8.5lb (218.5lb) by my next update. Here’s a chart of my weight on the previous program including the wedding week itself.

• week 0 (last week): 10/07/2017: 15st 13lb (223lb)
• week 1: 17/07/17: 15st 11.2lb (221.2lb)
• GOAL: 14/10/17: 13st 7lb (189lb)

© 2017 Bryan A. J. Parry

featured image from https://hansimann.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/sisyphus_by_o__v-d66ox90.png

check out my new health and life goals blog at http://www.diethealthlifegoals.wordpress.com

Introduction

I HAVE BEEN on a 13 week diet to get into (a less round) shape for a family wedding. Click here for a quick explanation of what and why: but the short of it is this: having a Body Mass of over 30 (= “Obese Class 1”) in a suit at a wedding in the sun in Spain is not a good look!

Outcome

The 13 week diet had its ups and downs. As you can see from the weekly summary below, I only really began losing weight half way through the diet. This was very disappointing and meant that I missed my immensely achievable weight target of 14st 7lb. None-the-less, I turned it around and was only 11.6lb from my target. I fit into my suit and looked pretty dapper, too. Not quite so dapper pool-side, mind! But this was only Phase 1 in my transformation: slow and steady wins the race and is healthy and sustainable.

The reason for my inability to lose weight at first? I thought that a healthy diet plus the “odd reward” would be okay. Actually, when I totted it up, the “odd reward” was more like 2-3 takeaways a week, a couple of bottles of beer most nights, and biccies or chocs with almost every cup of tea/coffee–and I drink a lot of tea and coffee! Plus, not everything was healthy; semi-skimmed milk still adds up quite badly when you’re drinking half a dozen cups of tea/coffee a day.

I changed tack and began my “almost cold turkey” approach of no junk whatsoever from week eight. That is, one treat a week, one bottle of beer a week, and no more than a couple of biscuits a day. Click week ten’s post for details. This yielded BIG results. 18lbs in the six weeks!

What I’ve learnt

Most of my posts in this series have tips and advice based on what I’ve learnt (weeks: 1 2 3 4 5 7 9 10 11 12 13). But I think the key things to bear in mind are:

• Mindfulness: be aware of what you really are taking in; eat slowly and focus on the food without distractions as this will make you enjoy it more and feel fuller; don’t fatten yourself with hidden devils such as unhealthy salad dressing or the milk in your morning latte.
• Don’t starve: you should never be hungry, always nicely full. Crunchy foods which make you chew and which fill you up are the ideal snack to keep hunger at bay, such as apples, pears, peppers, and radishes.
• Eat small and often: three meals plus two or three snacks. Snacks should be healthy!
• Drink lots of water: will keep you healthy and destroy your hunger.
• Inches not pounds: you should be aiming to slowly transform your body in the desired direction, but don’t obsess about weight. Your weights goes up and down all the time: worry more about inches, not pounds.

One week on

My plan was always to enjoy myself on the wedding trip. I wouldn’t eat endless Pringles, but I would drink and enjoy myself. I had no scales in Spain to keep tabs on myself, but I could more-or-less guess. Also, I was happy to take a half stone (7lb) hit! That is, gaining around two week’s weight loss in one week. So long as I didn’t go over the, for me, psychologically important weight of 16 stone, I would be happy.

And that’s what has happened. I’ve gone back up to 15st 13lb. Most of this weight gain was doubtles due to the wedding feast as well as the few tinies of beer every day. Otherwise, my diet was pretty good.

The future

I have another wedding on the 14th October! So I’ll be starting the sequel to this post series: Twelve Week Wedding Weight Loss. Clearly the secret to weight loss is 2-4 weddings a year! Hopefully, I keep this weight off and keep striving towards my goal equipped with the insight I’ve gained this time round. But the goal then won’t be reaching 14st 7lb, which is just over the weight I was when I got married in 2013. No! I’ll be going for my target weight that I haven’t been since I was 20 years old: 13st 7lb! (189lb) Why? This is the weight that I know, from my own experience, is healthy for me. Thus begins Phase 2 of Operation Fatty Parry.

13 Week Wedding Weight Loss: Week-By-Week

• week 1: 03/04/17: 16st 11.6lb (235.6lb)
• week 2: 10/04/17: 16st 9.2lb (233.2lb) target was 233.1lb
• week 3: 17/04/17: 16st 7lb (231lb) target was 230.6lb
• week 4: 24/04/17: 16st 8.8lb (232.8lb) target was 228.1lb
• week 5: 01/05/17: 16st 8.8lb (232.8lb) target was 225.6lb
• week 6: 08/05/17: 16st 8.8lb (232.8lb) target was 223.1lb
• week 7: 15/05/17: 16st 9lb (233lb) target was 220.6lb
• week 8: 22/05/17: 16st 9lb (233lb) target was 218.1lb
• week 9: 29/05/17: 16st 4.8lb (228.8lb) target was 215.6lb
• week 10: 05/06/17: 16st 1lb (225lb) target was 224.6lb/213.1lb*
• week 11: 12/06/17: 16st 0.6lb (224.6lb) target was 221.5lb/210.6lb*
• week 12: 19/06/17: 15st 9.0lb (219lb) target was 221lb/208.1lb*
• week 13: 26/06/17: 15st 6.8lb (216.8lb) target was 215lb/205.6lb*
• WEDDING DAY: 03/07/17: 15st 4.6lb (214.6lb) target was 214.8lb/203lb
• GOAL: 03/07/17: 14st 7lb (203lb)
• WEDDING DAY + 1 WEEK: 10/07/17: 15st 13lb (223lb)

*the left hand figure is my new revised target, the right hand one was my original target.

© 2017 Bryan A. J. Parry

featured image from https://hansimann.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/sisyphus_by_o__v-d66ox90.png