Resolution Update

Well, it's been a while since I posted anything on the blog, much less kept up with my Resolution Updates.

But I've got good reasons, and they're not just because of laziness.  In part, towards the end of the week before last, I got sick with a pretty nasty cold, which kept me off the bike and out of the pool.  And then, when I was just starting to feel better, I took off for a brief trip to Costa Rica last Sunday, early in the morning.  I didn't return home from Costa Rica until Wednesday, late afternoon, of last week.  From then, it was just the business of getting back into the work groove, which always picks up around this time of year.

So, circumstances of illness, followed by overseas travel, coupled with an orientation towards a "break" from the normal routine (after all, last week was our Spring Break week at the university), meant that I fell way off the diet and exercise bandwagon.

I actually wasn't able to (or more exactly, didn't want to) get back into the diet and exercise regimen until yesterday.  Needless to say, I was somewhat trepidatious of getting on the scale after more than a week of laxity.

But before I post the results of my latest weigh-in yesterday, I have to let everyone know that on the last day I exercised and weighed in, which was Wednesday, March 7, I weighed in at 170.6 lbs.  I still don't consider that as having met my resolution goal for a couple of reasons.  First, it still was greater than 170.0 lbs, and my goal is to get to 170.0 lbs.  Second, it wasn't independently verified by a neutral party or observer.  And third, it was right after a workout and I think the official tally needs to take place some hours after a workout and after a meal and rehydration re-calibrates my weight in a more accurate way.

Even still, I got very close to my goal.  But then I got sick, travelled abroad, and just took a longer break than I expected.

Which leads me to yesterday...

After my workout of yesterday, I gingerly got on the scale, and my weight was back up to 176.8 lbs.  I have to say that I was expecting worse, especially since the whole time in Costa Rica, I was really indulging in some rich, heavy meals, and wasn't exercising at all.

Which means to say that I've got some more work cut out for me still.

And I can't say that I'm not too unhappy about it, because one of my fears is that once I hit my goal in the proper way, and have it verified, the temptation will be to relax my vigilance on the healthier lifestyle I've been mostly living since January 1.  So, the motivation is still present and I am now back on the wagon, so to speak.

I did take a picture yesterday, but I haven't yet uploaded it to my computer off my camera.  When I do, I'll post it for some visual evidence of where I am.

So, there you have it.

Until the next update ... healthy eating and regular exercise!

Resolution Update

OK.  I'm a day behind, but I have a good excuse.

I was participating in a Posse Plus Retreat and was really occupied with retreat activities for most of the weekend.

I did return Sunday evening, but I just didn't have time to settle back into my home routine and get my resolution updates in order.

So, I'm posting an update now, on Monday, one day later than normal.

Last week, I weighed in at 174.8 lbs.  As of this afternoon, I weigh 173.2 lbs.  Closer and closer to my goal.

I have found out something interesting, though.  I have usually been weighing myself at the end of my daily workouts in the gym.  I usually work out for about 1.5 hours just before lunchtime, having only eaten a very light breakfast.  The scale is kinder to me then.  But the few times when I have done a workout after lunch later in the evening, the scales are less generous -- sometimes by a good 2-3 lbs.

So, I am facing a dilemma about what will be an appropriate weigh-in moment to track my resolution outcome.  I think that what I will need to do is to try to find an appropriate middle ground.  Weighing myself right after my workouts is probably not an accurate reflection of my stable weight; but weighing myself within a half-hour or so of eating a meal is probably also not an accurate reflection of my stable weight.  So, what I will use as the measuring point for my resolution accountability is to find a mid-point between the end of a workout and a recently full belly.  Anyway, I'll think about how to do this some more.  For now, some visual evidence:

Sunday, March 4, 2012:

Compared to January 1, 2012: