Chewed off more than I bargained for

Made that bet as few weeks ago.  Yes, alcohol was involved.  I made it based on I was just at 308, and 275 seemed 'close'.  But, I was having some swelling issues and had ballooned up well over 330, so figured I'd get that under control and ...   easy peasy.  Hmmmmmm. Not.

Well, I did get it (swelling) under control.  Feel great. Saw the Doc earlier this week and left with flying colors.  Even a reduction in medicine dosages.  But ......   my weight isn't what I'd expected.  As I type this I"m a notch under 319, but feel great.  I've been dropping a pound a day, but it's not realistic to think I'll keep that up.. so .. what to do.  I could do this via KETO simply, but I don't believe it's a long term solution.  Besides, always seems like 5% of that loss is always water and comes back the minute you have some delicious  carbs!  There's the old fashioned method I used during my bodybuilding days. Work your ass off, and eat upwards of six tiny meals, none later than say 6pm.   Then there is what I've sort of been doing the last week; Intermittent Fasting.  I have to admit, it has my attention.

Several years ago I was talking to one of my peers and the subject of working out/weight loss came up and he told me he was down 40 lbs in six months.   He had my attention. Claimed all he did was Intermittent Fasting.  No Diets per se'.  No working out.  To be honest I had no idea what it was at the time.  I've read up on it a lil over the years, but never got it much thought.   But.... that was until recently.

I've decided to give it a try.  Few things about it intrigue me.  I'm a believer in not eating in the evenings until morning.  That gives one about 9+ hours to burn off fat since carbs are minimal / non existent during the night.   I'm a big breakfast eater, but ... hate being full all morning.  So, to do some basic variations of it has proven simple.  Eat between noon and 6pm, and .. that's it.  I've watched almost a pound a day come off the last week. All that without doing anything crazy in the gym.  But, we've got a problem.

I did a spreadsheet earlier this morning to get a snapshot of how my weight loss needs to look ,... and it caught me off guard.

I know from my bodybuilding days that 3 lbs a week is doable and probably the max.  However, this means I need to step up my game; take this all a little more serious than I have.   Means putting in some time doing aerobics to kick up the metabolism.  Keeping my alcohol based calories in check (minimal margaritas!).  Means putting the time in with the Iron.   

When the smoke clears I'll be sub 275.  My jeans will be two pant sizes less.  I'll be unable to wear 3x shirts w/o looking like a bum.  I see good things ahead.  But .. It won't be easy.  I've got a 1/2 dozen things planned between now  and then from Bike Events to Key West to MS.  Lot of chances to fail.  But, because of the bet I wagered, failure is NOT an option.  Guess $$ gets my attention and I ain't paying out $30k needlessly.  

So .. Intermittent fasting.  Found some great details on it.  I'll modify as necessary to fit my routine.  Best part is .. it's not a diet, just a different pattern of eating.  Now .. just need to park the deserts... monster steaks ... high calorie drinks.   

Easier said than done...lol

1

2

3