250s
Okay, now for the down-to-earth version of yesterday's post.
Two weeks ago I changed my workout regimen to a four day cycle. The first day was half strength training, half cardio. Instead of 3 sets on each of the 15 machines, I cut down to 2 sets (12 reps each) and increased the weight by an average of 20lbs. The half day of cardio is 25 minutes at 128bpm or higher. The following two days are 50 minutes of cardio at 125-130bpm. The fourth day I have off and do not exercise.
I've been fighting to break into the 250s for those last several weeks. I haven't controlled my intake as tightly as I should. Often there would be a few days I would splurge only to reign myself in very, very tightly thereafter. It's a difficult line to walk since the exercise and decreased intake can make me exhausted and irritable. A few days ago, however, I felt I reached a kind of equilibrium. Hunger seemed more easily controlled, and the workouts not so difficult. My weight dropped from 265 to 262, then from 262 back up to 264. Although I was devastated at the time, I believe it was due to when I had taken the measurement. The first 262 readings were taken on late weekend afternoons where I had gone to the Y on the edge of hunger. The 264 was taken after a unfortunately late meal. I managed, however, to get back on track to 262 soon afterward.
260 quickly followed. Although I recognized it as an achievement, I didn't do much to advertise it. I was on the leading edge of a depressive episode that would last several days. I felt too numb to enjoy the milestone. That was last weekend. I continued grinding on eventually shaking off most of the malaise by mid week.
The 250s has become a kind of mystical place for me. 250lbs is the upper weight limit set by my potential surgeon, Dr. Bowers. I didn't feel entitled to make any long term plans until I either reached it, or had gotten damn close. I haven't, for example, sent in my application to her. I've also pushed out the date from January 2009 to a November/December time frame. Setting the date further out gives me more time to save money and lose weight. December is also ideal as there are plenty of opportunities for vacation time and less desire from clients to travel. The slow winter months of 2010 will give me additional time to recover. All of this, however, was hanging on the fulfillment what had become my "last pre-requisite".
Breaking through the barrier between 260 and 259lbs is very important to me. Instead of being scores and scores of pounds away from my primary weight goal, I am now less than ten. 8 pounds seems rather achievable even with my pessimistic brain.
