Weight for 160

Today, I have reached the halfway mark between my starting weight of 246.2 and my goal of 160 pounds.

But it will be even harder to complete this last half.

First, I will not be burning calories as fast as I could when I first started. Did you know that the amount you burn is based on your weight? At the last WW meeting, a member made copies of a table that listed the “Energy Expenditure for Selected Physical Activities.” (I found a copy here: http://tinyurl.com/mcfl3x)

Let’s take running at 5MPH. The energy expenditure is 0.070 cals/min/lb. At 246.2 pounds, I could burn 344.68 calories if I ran for 20 minutes. But now that I am 203.1, I would only burn 284.34 calories in 20 minutes. When I hit 160 pounds, it would only be 224 calories.

To overcome this, I will exercise more.

Secondly, my eating habits are routine, and the body tends to plateau when the same thing happens over and over. Nature fights to keep things in an even keel and will fight to keep it that way.

To overcome this, I will shake things up with adjusting calorie intake and exercise.

And lastly, between July 15th and April 6th are the holidays. Cookies, turkey, and potlucks, oh my! There is so much to celebrate and I should be happy. I will be faced with potluck after potluck. I will plan parties and dinners. It will get colder and I will want filling foods.

To overcome this, I will remind myself that I am NOT on a diet, I am changing my LIFEstyle and that doesn’t take a break for the holidays. I will NOT go back to my previous weight for the sake of the short-lived pleasure of mac and cheese or a cookie.

With this post, I am acknowledging that my weight-loss journey will be a bit more hilly and that I am ready to take it on.