2008

Well, now its 2008 and its that time of year when I put down on paper some ideas for the new year. I have not achieved my goals for weight, so this seems like a great time to redouble my efforts and re-commit myself to losing weight. The good news is that I am still in great shape overall…I can run for miles, I can cycle for hours, I have a solid cardio base. However, I can use some work when it comes to muscle conditioning and overall weight.

So now that it is January here is my plan:

1. Eat sensible lunches and dinners. For lunch I will have either a salad or the Vietnamese Pho soup from the cafeteria. For dinner, I will be eating 3-6 ounces of lean meat (lean beef, chicken, fish), fresh vegetables and salad. No beer, wine or alcohol for the time being. No junk food, no crackers, no cheese, no chips, no dips, no fried food, no bacon/egg sandwiches…. I will be eating enough healthy foods so that I shouldn't be hungry, and I know that after a week of doing this I will begin to have fewer cravings for the bad stuff… the first week is always the most difficult. Most important will be the weekends since that is when I tend to binge and eat/drink the wrong things at the wrong amounts.
   
2. Exercise- minimum 5 days a week cardio including a balance of running and cycling (indoor for now). Minimum 2 days/week of strength training…. Even if meeting a trainer is not possible for both those sessions, I have to commit myself to going into the gym and strength train on my own. I have been doing so for years, so I do know a number of excellent strength training exercises…I just need to do them.
   

That's it…this is not a complicated plan, nor do I need a complicated plan. I just need to follow the plan carefully and consciously.

I do not know my starting weight today, and that's not important. I know I must have gained weight in December due to travel/lack of exercise/eating. I'm going to give myself a week to shed the initial water weight before weighing myself…that way I won't get overexcited at the loss of several pounds in the first week only to cheat on my diet after that first week. What will count will be solid consistent weight loss in the weeks after the first week. So essentially, whatever I weight next Wednesday will be the starting point for my tracking.