Self-delusion Is Pulling In Your Stomach When You Step On The Scale
June 18, 2007
This weekend I hopped on the scale for the first time in several weeks. Three weeks, to be exact. Three grueling weeks of eating less food on a daily basis than I've consumed in maybe the past twenty years of my life. And what I found wasn't all that surprising.
The scale displayed a three pound weight loss. That's only one pound a week, though somehow I was expecting an average of five pounds a week – that's how little food I feel like I've been eating – regardless of how absurd that expectation might be.
I suppose a pound a week is not horrible, because my track record could have been a pound a month. Which, let's just say, wouldn't get me to my goal until the year 2011, and by then I'd probably have already given up and started wearing muumuus.
Of course, that tiny little drop in weight was expected, considering that my clothes are still fitting just about the same, and considering I really haven't exercised all that much. Unless you consider the five flights of stairs I take to work each morning, which takes less than two minutes. I guess. I haven't actually timed it, but if you see a girl heaving in the stairwell tomorrow morning and staring at her watch?
Say "Hello." It'll be nice to meet you.
Comments
Hey, good for you Jes! A pound a week is actually a very healthy rate of weight loss, and slower loss usually represents a change that is easier to maintain that a drastic loss. And did you know that one pound equals 3500 calories, which means that to lose one pound, you have to consume 3500 calories LESS than you burn? That's pretty awesome in one week if you ask me :)
Posted by: Laura | June 18, 2007 12:25 PM
That picture of a scale is pretty awesome, but not as awesome as the three pounds down. Good work!
Posted by: Janssen | June 18, 2007 01:02 PM
I heart the title of this post. :)
Way to go on the weight loss! You kick ass.
Posted by: Courtney | June 18, 2007 03:38 PM
Dude, a pound a week is what I strive for, and I'm on Weight Watchers. It's a very healthy rate of weight loss, and I know that feels very blah blah blah fakeycakes, it's true. You shouldn't lose much more than 1-2 pounds a week, and in addition, it's not uncommon for you to GAIN weight during the weight loss process from time to time.
Posted by: jonniker | June 18, 2007 05:06 PM
Yes, the math plays out - 3500 cals a week divided by 7 equals a 500 calorie reduction each and every day. That's about what most people can handle.
Posted by: Suebob | June 18, 2007 08:00 PM
Congrats jes, for your weight loss.
I think you're cute now, no matter how much your weight.
And I love CHIRKY!! See you...
Posted by: PRETTY IN THE CITY | June 18, 2007 10:01 PM
I lean back and hold my breath. As if breathing in air will make a drastic difference in weight loss. Have you heard of the caloric content of oxygen??? crazy, yo.
Posted by: Heather B. | June 19, 2007 07:22 AM
I second Courtney's comment: The title of this post is priceless!
Posted by: Beth Kujawski | June 19, 2007 10:36 AM
First of all, I'm so glad about the three pounds. A pound a week is 52 pounds in a year, right? If you lost that much weight, there wouldn't be anything left of you.
Second, I hear you on the heaving in the stairwell thing! I tried to walk up those stairs to my office exactly one time. Half way up I really thought I was just going to have to spend the day in the stairwell, too tired to continue up and too ashamed to wander onto some random floor and admit I couldn't make it. It's hard!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 19, 2007 11:15 AM
whoops. forgot to sign in. that was me that just commented.
Posted by: JLR | June 19, 2007 11:16 AM
Congrats on the three pounds! That's great!
It's cool to read everyone's encouraging comments. We're like your cheerleaders. Chirky's Cheerleaders. That's kinda cute.
We should make jerseys!
Posted by: my life is brilliant | June 19, 2007 12:52 PM
Congrats! I am back on the working out wagon (for one whole day now), so hopefully I can be as successful as you!
Posted by: -R- | June 19, 2007 01:43 PM
Yaaay! You go girl!
Posted by: Ki | June 19, 2007 10:40 PM
Um.... you're just building muscle?
I dunno. I hate diets and I hate trying to lose weight. I have a lot to lose (especially 'round my midsection!) and I am just so unmotivated to do it!
Good luck!
Posted by: Jayleigh | June 21, 2007 08:37 AM
Hey, progress is progress. That's what I say. I just got back on Sparkpeople this very week to get my own lazy butt in gear (and I haven't really even been that lazy, just eating whatever I want). So, here's to us---for plugging and chipping away at the pounds that plague us.
Oh, and I got my delectable-looking (since I haven't tasted it yet) strawberry jam. :9 Thanks!
Posted by: Lorie | June 21, 2007 03:45 PM
Yep... I do the exact same thing.... suck in, hold my breath and stay very still.
I also know exactly how much my shoes weigh!
The point though is, how do you feel in your clothes? Do you feel better about the way you look? Are you beginning to feel healthier?
The pounds are irrelevant when it comes down to it. 130 on one person could be overweight when on another it is underweight... and yet another it would be perfect.
So, keep plugging away. Watch your diet and exercise and just feel good about you!
Posted by: Willow | June 21, 2007 07:57 PM
If you lose weight too quickly, you could have that sagging skin problem. A pound a week sounds like a good, steady rate of weight loss.
Congratulations on your progress so far!
Posted by: RR | June 21, 2007 09:28 PM
Every little bit helps! Love that scale picture too - Mr. Ed! Hilarious!
Posted by: eddo | June 24, 2007 05:27 PM