Day One
It’s December 8th, 2008, and today I’ve decided to do things differently.
I’ve been pretty off-balance lately. My old routine went out the window when Ethan was born, and I’ve never gotten back onto a firm footing. My sleeping and eating habits have been very erratic, and I’ve gradually become less and less physically active. This lifestyle has impacted my overall health and mental well-being.
I haven’t gained much weight, as it turns out. For the past few years I’ve been between 185 and 190 pounds. This morning I weighed 191.5. But my shape has changed. I’ve gotten softer and rounder in the middle, and I look like I’ve gained 30 or 40 pounds. I’ve been drinking too much soda and eating too much junk food. I’ve never really over-eaten, but I haven’t been getting proper, balanced nutrition. And generally speaking, I pretty much feel like crap…
So, as the first prong of my three-pronged approach to healthier living, I’m completely changing my eating habits. I’ve been on WeightWatchers before. I’ve done the points. It worked okay, but I was never able to stay on the system in a strict way. The points program is a little too loosey-goosey, with the floating points and the eating whatever you want. Right now, I need more structure.
My brother and dad have both been doing Nutrisystem for some time, and with great success. Dad has already lost more than fifty pounds*, and Tom’s lost about 45*. I signed up last week, and my first batch of food arrived this weekend. I spent the last two days splurging on whatever junk food inventory was left in the house (Pop Tarts, soda, cheese and crackers) but today I began the program in earnest. I’m one meal and one snack into it so far, and I haven’t died. I don’t usually eat breakfast at all, so I actually feel more full than normal at this point. With Nutrisystem® Advanced™ I get OmegaSol™ and NutriSol™ and the Glycemic Advantage™, so how can I go wrong?
The second prong in my three-pronged lifestyle makeover is increased physical activity. My doctor recommended taking brisk walks around the park during my lunch break every day. I’ve decided I need a little more than a daily stroll to get myself into shape. I need to really get fit, and I need a structured daily routine.
Three years ago I bought an “exergame” for the old Xbox called Yourself!Fitness. It’s an interactive exercise program. The software collects data about your state of fitness and crafts a custom routine according to your current level and goals. You’re guided by your virtual personal trainer, Maya.
Maya is talkative, energetic and seems completely non-judgmental about doughy men flailing about in their living rooms. The game’s box says that Maya can guide you through more than 500 individual exercises. According to fitness/video game experts, this software will to do a lot more good for you than Wii Fit if you’re able to stick with it. Needless to say, it started collecting dust immediately after I purchased it. (Wii Fit did better. It was enjoyed for several days before it began collecting dust.)
So, I had to hook up the old Xbox to finally start using Yourself!Fitness. Wielding the giant black controller, I went through the initial (exhausting) assessment exam and set up my goals. The game says I’m overweight, and it suggested I focus on weight loss. I started my new regimen with a light cardiovascular workout. It was challenging, but I made it through the first session. And without puking or passing out.
So I feel like I’ve made a really good start so far. Last night I took some measurements and obligatory “before” photos. These aren’t images I want floating around the internet, though. Maybe after I’ve had some success I’ll show you just how far I’ve come. For now, though, I’ll share the vitals:
- Height: 5 feet, 7.5 inches
- Weight: 191.5 pounds
- Waist: 40 inches
- Gut: 44 inches
- Physique: Pillsbury Doughboy
- Nutrisystem meals eaten: 1
- Nutrisystem snacks eaten: 1
- Yourself!Fitness workouts completed: 1
- Calories burned: 76
- Number of times the phrase “Results not typical” appears in Nutrisystem start-up literature: 13
Prong three, of course, is a crystal meth habit, which many consider Hollywood’s best kept secret for rapid weight loss. Sure, it’s a risky move, but the results aren’t always bad. Unfortunately, I don’t have a dealer, so I’ll stick with prongs one and two and see how it goes. For now.
*Results not typical.
