Yesterday, I weighed 210.2, about a pound under my control line. This morning, I weighed 211.8, about a pound above my control line.
I could attribute the increase to a bigger than usual lunch, a supper of starchy leftovers, trying to lose weight in the winter is a mug's game, the dates I snacked on in the afternoon (if grapes=candy, then dates=chocolate caramels), a week of consistently poor sleep, or 104 other variables.
No matter the cause, I have to take the scale’s report as truth and act accordingly.
Mark Forster, when he devised his version of the No S diet, defined a set of rules for such occasions. Every day he was over the line, he added a rule. Every day he was on the line, he kept the same rules. Every day he was below the line, he relaxed a rule.
It’s an eminently sensible plan.
I started defining my own set of rules, ranking them by severity, etc. but decided to go easy on myself. I have my own toolkit of techniques; as I mark my weight on the graph, I’m already calculating which ones I will deploy that day.
The techniques are a mix of the following, in no particular order, and as the day allows:
- No snacking
- No sweets, though an apple or clementine is allowed
- Water, coffee, and herbal tea only (no ciders, no diet sodas)
- Only cold boiled potatoes during the day, with a normal supper
- No seconds, smaller portions
- Stop eating by 7pm or thereabouts
- Extra laps around the parking lot at work, or a workout at home
- Skipping one or two meals
- Start eating at 4pm and stop eating by 8 pm
Today, I had 3 meals (cold boiled potatoes at lunch), small portions, no snacks, and walked the parking lot at work. I did have a cider.
If my weight is still over the line tomorrow, then I will aim to have my large meal about midday. I’m scheduled for a workout, so that will help burn some calories. For the rest of the day: eat less, move more.
Although trying to lose weight during winter is like pushing a car out of a ditch.
Update, 1/27/2018: I weighed 209.8 this morning, a little less than a pound under my control line. Success! The goal today is to eat sensibly, have a workout, and continue to stay on or under the line.
