Watching My Weight: Week 4

Welcome back, friends. About 90 people read last week’s update, so thank you for doing so and for coming back today.

In my previous posts, here and here, you learned that I’ve set out on an odyssey from where I am today to where I would like to be (at least initially) with respect to my weight and health. My chosen vehicle is Weight Watchers® Online for Men and its handy-dandy iPhone application. You will also remember that I’m posting these reports for the dual purposes of (a) adding to my own accountability for results, and (b) providing possible encouragement to others who may be on the same path. All costs of the program are being paid personally, as it’s not a sponsored project.  Now, on to what happened in Week 4.

Past Week’s Results

This past week was a real challenge. While I was able to manage my points relatively well, I was late in entering them on several days and found myself skipping breakfast and back-filling my calories with larger meals at suppertime. To be honest, it was not the plan for the week and the best that I can surmise is that it was largely the result of some emotional and stressful issues my family and I faced. I tend to eat when I’m stressed, so my results this week make sense from that perspective. I need to break the link between my stress level and my food intake, if I’m ever going to conquer my weight issues. Big task, but Lord willing, it will be possible.

On a related note, I had some follow-up testing done after a recent ER visit that you may have read about on Facebook, and thanks to my family’s prayers and yours (thank you!), they proved negative. No need for surgery at this time. For that I am truly grateful. Weight loss will only help the condition identified, so I have even more motivation to get the pounds off. As if I needed another reason, right?

Well, since beginning my effort 4 weeks ago, I have an accumulated loss of 12.2 pounds (~3%) according to my WW44 scale. In last week’s post I listed a loss of 12.5 pounds, but noted this morning that my math was incorrect. It was actually 11.5 pounds last week. The posted graph was correct, however. As to my results for the “Goals for Next Week” listed at the end of that post, I met Goal 1 and Goal 3, but just barely in one case. In the case of Goal 2, I missed it one day by exceeding my daily points allocation.

In aggregate, I had 536 points allotted through the program and I completed the week with 381 points used. That’s a substantial improvement over last week, but the points used were used up with some pretty unhealthy choices, comparatively.

The updated graph that I’ve created for both weight and points tracking is pasted below:

Personal Observations

You know that I started this effort at a peak that is hard for me even to discuss. I posted the initial version of the graphs above and since have had the feeling that the numbers may have put off some readers. That would be understandable, I guess. The founder and publisher of a foodie blog would, in the best case, be a healthy person who knows how to balance good food and good nutrition. That’s my goal, but I’m not anywhere near there yet.

I think it’s also fair to add that excessive weight often carries connotations of laziness and lack of commitment. This is not the case with me and many others that I know who face similar personal situations. The task remains for me to prove otherwise and I hope that my friends and the many readers of PeeDeeFoodie.com™ will stick-around to witness that proof over time.

Goals for Next Week

1. Complete the week having enjoyed my meals, but having remained below my total weekly points allocation;
2. Remain below my daily points allocation for each day of the week;
3. Continue to lose weight toward my total initial goal of 40 pounds.

I welcome your suggestions and feedback. Leave a Comment

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