Oh to be young again! I remember when I could eat anything I wanted with virtually no consequences! Pizza, hot dogs, chips, ice cream, soda, mac and cheese, fast food, you name it. I indulged in all the staples of the modern American diet. I was in my 20's, very fit from cycling, and had the metabolism of a hummingbird. All that changed when I hit 30. I had stopped riding (and everything else I used to do), but still ate like I was ship wrecked. This overindulgence went on for years until about 6 years ago I decided It was now or never. Like most of America, I was fat, stressed, and depressed about the situation I'd put myself in. Over the years I had, on occasion, dropped a few pounds by walking trails and watching what I ate but I never made what I would call a change in lifestyle. I wasn't motivated enough and I thought I was too busy ("boy I need to start working out soon" I'd tell myself).
One day I got on the scale and realized I'd hit 240 pounds "on the dot"! Spare tire, double chin, budding "moobs", weird drivers license picture, holy crap! I was no longer the 1980's svelt cyclist (175 lbs), I was the 2005 "fat dad who got tired hitting grounders to his little league team". I was embarrassed that I'd let myself go like that! Something in me snapped at that moment. I decided to be a responsible adult and "dig out".
I started out by stretching and walking some local trails at a nearby park. I put my head phones on and walked at a pretty good clip (enough to break a good sweat). I didn't keep track of how far I went, I just made sure I pushed myself. I would do this whenever I was home, and when I was traveling I'd find a local park or neighborhood. It was tough at first. My muscles and joints would ache to the point of discouragement. "Screw this!" I'd say to myself, "you're fat and it's hopeless." Then I'd see someone in a deeper hole than I was in, out there plugging along, and I'd think "it could be worse, and if they can try, you better get your head on straight!".
In terms of getting my head on straight I performed a massive "ego check". I realized I put myself in that situation and it was going to take time and serious effort. I didn't get that way overnight, and fat or skinny I'd never be what I once was physically or in appearance anyways, but I would feel and look better than I did (I'm content to blend in). Coming to a realization of these things took the pressure off and I settled in for the long haul.
I lost some weight from all the walking and changing my diet, and a year or so later I decided to buy a bike (another Bottecchia!). I was very excited to get back on the bike and was quickly humbled. I knew it would be painful, but geeeeez! The first time out I did 10 excruciating, leg burning miles (probably at about 10 mph haha)! I felt jittery, and vulnerable before a car was even in sight. I used to hammer for miles and miles and miles! I could climb fairly well and could bomb down descents without a care in the world (I hit 50 mph a couple of times)! Now, years of inactivity later, I was fat, pasty white, and struggling up a very small incline in my small chain ring. I kept on riding and rediscovered a sport which meant so much to me as a younger man. After setting reasonable goals for time and distance, every chance I got I hit the road and basically punished myself. The weight started to melt off quickly!
I changed my diet radically. No regular soda or juice, junk food, fast food (avoid it like the plague), deep fried food, desert, etc. I wouldn't even take a sample at Costco! I tried as hard as I could to avoid processed "insta meals" and kept my portions of anything I ate reasonable (no buffets either!). I cut out diet soda a couple years ago (completely soda free for two years!) and drink a lot of water and unsweet tea.
For the most part (I'm not a killjoy) I now eat reasonable portions of salad, meat of all kinds, lots of seafood, healthy bread, fruit, vegetables of all sorts, healthy cereal, and dairy (very little cheese). I don't snack much at all and I don't have desert or sweets very often. I fast every week and abstain from meat every Friday. I "takes me vitamins" as well.
If I'm tempted I just remember that I've lost 50 lbs the hard way. I know what whatever it is that's tempting me tastes like, I've had my fair share. I don't need it, I'm an adult and can't eat that crap anymore. I'm can control my will (the Catholic faith has help me immeasurably in this!) and I choose to deny myself.
I think what we feed our minds with has a lot to do with what we feed our bodies as well. In a nutshell, we live in a culture that caters to the basest desires. In fact it often creates or magnifies those desires. It focuses on "the self". If we marinate ourselves in it, which most people do from childhood, it's bound to create unhappiness and confusion. We are constantly fed images as to what "success" is, what "happiness" is, what "fulfillment" is, etc. Problems surface and are settled in the duration of a commercial or sitcom. Good looking/ cool people (not fat slobs) eat lots of fast, un-nutritious food, are ultra fit (if obesity isn't normal, neither is being ripped! Shoot for normal), drive great cars, wind surf, look great dressed immodestly (you're not "hot", dress like you should, not how you want to..), are incredibly promiscuous (STD & guilt free!) and have a better time in the shower than you ever will! Life is seemingly good for them, and that could be you if only you bought___! So you buy___ and you're still in the same boat, only now you're poorer and depressed! It's not reality in any way, shape or form. So maybe, consciously or unconsciously, you eat as a temporary distraction?
Everyone has obstacles, your goal should be to limit them and keep them within reason. Honestly, if you really think about it, you bring the bulk of your problems on yourself to one degree or another. The opposite is true as well.
Try a "culture fast" for a week. Turn off your TV, get away from your computer, throw out your crappy music (or at least box it up) and fill your life with good music and books of substance. Pray often, learn to enjoy silence, being outside, walk and talk with your spouse and kids, talk with a neighbor, plant a garden, buy a telescope, go to a museum, park, zoo, or library.
As for losing weight, you can do that too! You Should!! It's the right thing to do for yourself, your spouse, and your kids! And if you ever need some realistic advice or encouragement please let me know!
