by Ethan Johnson
November 7, 2007

In our last episode, I decided to mothball the whole formal exercise plan thing in favor of doing whatever for the remainder of the year, and getting back to a more disciplined footing next January. How many of you, who have been working on exercise and weight loss plans hit the proverbial wall and decided to "maintain" rather than stick with the program? Only here's the trouble: "Maintaining" didn't happen, did it? And the problem with exercising "whenever" is that it gets pushed off an hour, half a day, day, two days, week, two weeks, and so on. Next thing you know, you're well on your way to undoing all of the good you did for the time you were sticking to the program.

Fortunately for me, I caught the problem early. The scale reading was starting to drift the opposite direction. I was feeling revved up about breaking the 250 pound barrier, only to break it the other way and sneak up to 256 from 249. Wrong! I re-committed to my exercise plan and cut out the foods that were creeping into the pantry, etc. For example, chocolate bars are (for me) a "sometimes" food. This is not defined as "one a day". More like "one every few weeks". The ice cream carton found its way back onto the shopping list (wronnnng) and has been re-banished.

One of the reasons that I write these articles is to affirm what has been working for me, and the sorts of behaviors, attitudes, and actions that I have found to be counterproductive. I attended a group lunch recently and learned that a former associate (we still work for the same company but haven't seen each other for years) joined a popular weight loss program. He was HUGE. He was always a "big" guy, but not like this. The second he entered the restaurant, he zeroed right in on me and started telling me about how he got to be so huge and what he's doing about it. "Hello to you too," I said, but I'm going to take it as a mutually positive experience. He needed to unload and get reinforcement for sticking to his chosen plan, and I needed a reminder that the plan - whatever it may be - only works if you work it.

For those of you who like pithy sayings (wink), listening to my associate's story brought the following pithy clarity:

The activities that we say "yes" to today may cause us to say "no" to other activities later on.

The activities that we say "no" to today may allow us to say "yes" to other activities later on.

For example, I haven't flown anywhere in some time. Having lost 53 pounds since I started my fitness regimen, I'm not fearing the middle seat. I'm on the aisle, which is always appreciated with my height (I can stretch at least one leg into the aisle occasionally), but the center seat is not a deal-breaker. I'm curious to experience how different air travel will be for me compared to last time, when I was pushing 300 pounds and nearly 2 waist sizes larger than today. If I kept being sedentary, or gone the direction of my associate, air travel might have been out of the question - at least without major discomfort and embarassment.

Kicking a soccer ball around for fun is another "hell no" proposition if I'm sedentary and averse to exercise. Hey, I dislike long periods of physical exertion as much as anyone, but this is a matter of conditioning - mentally and physically. My mind has to conform to the idea that I could do laps around the soccer field if I wanted to, and my body has to be capable of carrying out that activity.

I spent years eating what are arguably the WORST possible food choices. Artificial crapola, natural foods only in passing, scads of ingredients that probably have no business being in foodstuffs. When people commented on my food choices, I acted like a smoker and chalked it all up to my individual liberty, and oh well, so I clog up my arteries and die at 35. At least I'm happy, right? What kind of life is worth living if you can't eat bags and bags of Doritos? (For real: On a few occasions, I plowed through a GIANT bag of "Cool Ranch" Doritos because I was bored.) Now that I'm pushing 40, which as we all know is the new 39, I'm seeing the world as a far bigger place with far more to experience than whatever comes in a bag of processed "food". I'm not going to experience any of that stuff in the way that I want to experience it with clogged up arteries, or sitting in a wheelchair, or gasping for air after the slightest physical exertion.

And in the guise of my former associate, I saw that future writ large, so to speak. He loudly counted out tortilla chips to let his co-workers know that he was following "the plan". I don't want to count tortilla chips. I don't see them as intrinsically "bad". If I opt to eat some chips, then fine, I eat some chips. I resisted the urge to play along in a game of one-upmanship, and note that I took zero chips to his ten or whatever. He has his path, I have mine, and I wish him the best in his efforts. I figure he probably has some sort of plan-appointed sponsor (similar to addiction-recovery groups), but I really need to circle back and establish more regular communication with him. Even though it is his path to follow, it's that much easier when you learn that you're not alone and have support from others.

The associate loudly announced the things that he "can have" on the menu. He scouted the menu online so he knew what to order from the get-go rather than concern himself with various temptations at the table. This forced me to look closer at what I planned to order, and I consciously did try to order something healthier than I normally would have selected at this particular restaurant. Again, I'd rather not see the culinary world in terms of what I can and cannot "have". I am reducing my carb intake mostly as a direct result of Marlena's dietary changes, but left to my own devices, I don't consider it to be the end of the world if I eat bread or pasta. What does concern me, and my former associate will have to face this sooner or later, is that I have a rock-solid foundation of physical activity to offset my less desirable food choices.

For the time that I lost the plot, not only did questionable food choices creep into the house and into my stomach, but I wasn't getting the necessary exercise to balance out the calories and so forth. Rather than beat myself up, I re-committed myself to the Plan, and went forward. Now I'm down to 252 from 256, heading toward the 250 pound milestone. Where does it end? Well, I don't necessarily want rock hard abs or to look like Mister Universe. Nor do I want to slim down to some ridiculous skin-and-bones frame. I've been there, done that, and it doesn't suit me. (Seriously - I was once a 30x36 pants size. I can't fathom that.) Rather than gauge progress in pounds or waist sizes, I'll let my physique be my guide. I'm seeing more and more muscle groups taking on the slightest hint of definition. I'm adding new moves to my floor exercise, and walking is just walking. Riding the bike can be a chore (especially in a stiff wind) but I was thrilled to discover that I could bike against the wind and still get home safely. That wouldn't have been possible 9 months ago.

But I said yes to some things, no to others, and my body is reflecting the outcome of those choices.

More later. And yes, there will be another fitness update next month. <EM>

(For more articles about fitness, visit the Health and Wellness index.)