I made a decision that April 15th would be the day I’d start losing weight. Over the last few years I’d fallen into the habit of adding fries or chips and a soda with lunch, which would frequently feature a larger-than-necessary sandwich. I’d justify a fast food meal here and there because I felt so busy, but if anything I was just being lazy.
The outcome of not paying attention to what I was eating was not a surprise – my weight landed somewhere around 297 pounds. It’s an interesting feeling when your doctor says “I know it’s a big number, but hear me out – you could stand to lose a 100 pounds.” I’m not sure that’s in the cards, but we’ll see.
I’d already lost a few pounds in March from traveling, so I used that opportunity to kick off some intentional weight loss. Starting at 291 pounds, I cut soda and fast food out completely and dramatically decreased my intake of dairy, sugar, and fried foods. At just over a month I’m 13 pounds lighter – almost 19 pounds from my highest weight. There’s still a long way to go, I know, but it feels like a major accomplishment to take a step in the right direction.
Movie referenced: Fatso (1980)
Stephen Quirk 