I won’t bother explaining the reference in the title but if you want to be brought up to speed: I lost 110+ pounds in about a year (2018-2019). I last updated my situation in August/September 2019, and two years later into a pandemic I wanted to live up to the promise of writing each year about this journey.
I have kept the weight off, improved my blood pressure, and kept my blood sugar at bay (high normal or in warning territory most days) Writing yearly updates helps me hold myself accountable and perhaps it can bring something positive by anyone else reading this. If you have any questions you can find me on Twitter.
Less Strict, But Still Careful
What I Changed:
- I stopped going Keto officially since I didn’t need to lose that much weight anymore. However I am still avoiding all sugars and keeping a low-carb livestyle (if i say it like that makes it sound like i’m an influencer on Instagram). I still miss bananas (too much natural fruit). I still avoid soda for the most part. I miss nothing of note.
- I haven’t changed much what I eat – a salad almost every weekday. I do “meatless Mondays” now just to give my body a break from the increased fat and cholesterol I usually have over the weekend. Almond shakes and Lily’s chocolate chips (in cookies or straight out of the bag) are my fav deserts. Still do most of the cooking/baking from the home. Chipotle is my fav place otherwise.
- I do a low-level fast – I basically eat within a 2-3 hour window every day. I drink / sipping coffee starting around noon (coldbrew no-sugar with about 15 calories per serving, with some water). Coffee is a hunger suppressant and the tactic of eating within a window helps lower how much I can stuff into my body. On the weekends I tend to start eating a little earlier to treat/reward myself but end up eating about the same amount of food regardless.
- I increased my exercise – I still get up and walk/run early in the morning. I used to do 10k steps in my last update in 2019. My minimum per day is 12k however I haven’t been that low in over a year. In the past few months I’ve been doing 24k+ steps (and recently passed a record 34k steps). I walk around the house on calls sometimes and walk around the block after I drop off my kids from school. Apple Watch gifted to me late 2019 has been a big help in tracking. I have an active calorie goal now – not steps – but my a typical day sees me walk or running 10 miles or more.
- Slowing down – I can’t keep getting up 2 hours before my kids’ school starts and running outside, so i’m thinking about a standalone bike to reduce the pressure put on myself (and my legs). What i’m doing now isn’t sustainable and I think i’ve arrived at a place where my health improvements won’t get that much better, so I will ramp down the calories/miles I do per day.
- My wife wants me to lift weights. I’ve been fighting this. I guess next year we’ll see.