It's the last day of my first Dietbet. I've been wanting to lose weight for five years now. Last year I successfully lost ten pounds in about 6 weeks, using Weight Watchers and exercising daily. I kept it off, but wasn't successful in losing more. I recently got an ultrasound and found out I have mild fatty liver. That freaked me out. I also know that when I see the cardiologist in June, he will ask about my weight (I have a non-weight related heart condition).
A friend at work mentioned Dietbet, and I had heard about the gamification of weight loss. I'm competitive and don't like to lose, and hey, it seemed like a fun idea. Clear goals and timelines motivate me, and while the money is not much, it still provides a little incentive (cool, I could buy some new clothes or work out gear if I win!). I also got a new Fitbit at the same time, as my Flex was no longer working. I love data and knowing just how much I am moving is helpful for me to change my behaviour.
I set my daily steps goal at 11K, and starting tracking on myfitnesspal. In the past month, I've only missed tracking 3 days. I try to meet my daily step goal, and then some if possible. I have a standing date with the treadmill at 7 pm if my step counts are too low.
Funny thing is, this experience has been transformative. Maybe now that I have hit middle-age, something has clicked.
1. This isn't a diet.
This is the rest of my life. Eating well most of the time will be necessary to maintain my eventual healthy weight. I've lost 30-40 pounds three times before (once in grad school, and then after the birth of my last two kids), but it has always crept back. Looking back, it's clear that I let poor eating habits set in and normalize. I now know that I will NOT be able to have multiple sweet treats a day - I'll have to be okay with one, and in moderation. I'll have to control portions, and focus on protein and vegetables. I'll have to keep breads and other carbs to a minimum. But I'm okay with this now - I like my new way of eating, even if it is hard at times and requires a lot of prep!
2. Being active is a way of life.
I'm not just being active to lose weight. Being active daily is essential to a long an healthy life. 30 minutes a day is a small price to pay for years of better functioning. I've found that hitting the treadmill has been amazing for my mood, and I feel great about myself regardless of where the scale is. My new goal is to be active multiple times a day - a walk over lunch, and a jog or other active passtime at night. I want to keep moving.
3. Some good things take time
I hit a really long plateau this past month. But I kept on going, even when I thought my weight would not shift and I'd lose the dietbet. This was a revelation - I was doing this to be healthier, to feel better, and I had faith that if I just kept at it, eventually I would see results. The day the scale moved again was glorious. That day I saw a weight I haven't seen in years and years. It was so satisfying to have persevered and seen results.
That's really what I wanted to share today. I'm writing mostly to remind my future self about what I have learned in this past month. Perhaps these thoughts will help others too.
Oh yeah, I'm totally maxed out with 3 short term and 3 Transformers - looks like I'm in this for the long run!