Weigh-in 30

Start weight: 178.8 kg (394.2 lbs)

Last week's weight: 134.3 kg (296.1 lbs)

Current weight: 132.8 kg (292.8 lbs)

Loss this week: 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs)

Overall loss: 46 kg (101.4 lbs)

Start BMI: 56.4

Last week's BMI: 42.4

Current BMI: 41.9

 

So many milestones have converged this week. The biggest and most important is that I have now completed Phase III of my 2013 goal to lose 60 kg. Indeed, I now only have 14 kg left to lose to get to my goal for the year (of course if I do, I'll just start on my 2014 goal early). 14 kilos in five months? I'm pretty sure I can do that.

 

Secondly, going over the hundred pound mark is a big deal. As I explained last week, the forums I frequent are mainly American, and they think in pounds. Being able to say I've lost over 100 lbs makes me very proud of myself.

 

Thirdly, I have now lost over 25 percent of my start weight. I don't know what my final, ideal weight will be. If I stick to the BMI definition of normal, it should be at most 79 kg. I don't think that's realistic, especially as I will want to build some muscle mass. I think a target in the 80-90 kg range would be better. And if that's the case, then a 50% reduction on starting weight is desirable and so I'm halfway to goal.

 

Anyway, despite the minor setback I had when I visited Wellington, July has been a productive month. On the first of the month I weighed 138.6 kg, so I have lost 5.8 kg in the past four weeks. I think that was a little out of the ordinary given the giant 2.3 kg loss I had in the week ending 7 July, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

I just have two goals for August:

 

- Get into the 120s

- Reach a total loss of 50 kg 

Right now, I'm 6.3 kg away from moving out of Class III obesity and into Class II. I don't think that will happen by my last August weigh-in on the 25th. But hopefully in early September I'll get there.

Weigh-in 29

Start weight: 178.8 kg (394.2 lbs)

Last week's weight: 136.0 kg (299.8 lbs)

Current weight: 134.3 kg (296.1 lbs)

Loss this week: 1.7 kg (3.7 lbs)

Overall loss: 44.5 kg (98.1 lbs)

Start BMI: 56.4

Last week's BMI: 42.9

Current BMI: 42.4

A welcome return to form this week, after stalling a bit last week. The numbers pretty much tell the story. I'm half a kilo away from completing phase III. I'm actually 200 grams away from registering a loss of 25% of my starting weight, and I'm 1.9 lbs (860 grams) away from reaching the 100 lbs mark. 

And I'm still in class 3 obesity. A testament to how big I was. My BMI will creep under 40 when I reach 126.5 kg, which I think will happen in September. At my current pace, I'm hoping to reach my 2013 goal of a 60 kg loss by mid-late November. Then I can start my final 2014 push towards a weight of 85 kg a little earlier than planned. That makes me happy. 

Weigh-in 28

Start weight: 178.8 kg (394.2 lbs)
Last week's weight: 136.3 kg (300.5 lbs)
Current weight: 136.0 kg (299.8 lbs)
Loss this week: 0.3 kg (0.7 lbs)
Overall loss: 42.8 kg (94.4 lbs)
Start BMI: 56.4
Last week's BMI: 43
Current BMI: 42.9

A very small loss this week. And I know exactly why.

I was in Wellington from Monday until Thursday and while I tried to keep a lid on over-eating, I lost control of what I consumed. I was at a conference that had catered morning tea and lunch. In the evenings I went out to dinner with old friends, enjoying things like pizza, curry, lattes and alcohol.

On the plus side, I did do a lot of walking. And I'm extremely happy to be out of the >300 lb range. But I was raised on the metric system, so I guess it doesn't resonate as strongly with me as it does for people on the American forums I frequent.

When I returned to Dunedin, I was registering a small weight gain. Fortunately I have reversed that over the past two days, but it's a pity I had to lose most of a week's progress over this. I don't regret catching up with people, but I don't intend to make a habit out of how I approached food over the past week.

Can I lose another 2.2 kg and complete phase 3 by the end of the month? Or even another 400 g beyond that to hit the 100 lb mark? We'll see. It really is amazing to have those sorts of goals in my sights.

Weigh-in 27

Start weight: 178.8 kg (394.2 lbs)
Last week's weight: 138.6 kg (305.6 lbs)
Current weight: 136.3 kg (300.5lbs)
Loss this week: 2.3 kg (5.1 lbs)
Overall loss: 42.5 kg (93.7 lbs)
Start BMI: 56.4
Last week's BMI: 43.7
Current BMI: 43

Wow. I mean seriously, wow. I haven't had a loss over 2kg since February. These weeks are few and far between. I'm savouring this moment. So what have I done differently? Not much. I went for two lunchtime walks this week, following the same route as usual. I have been fighting a cold for the past 5 days, though. I suspect that's where my body has been using the extra energy. I wouldn't recommend illness as a weight loss strategy, but it's nice that there's a silver lining.

There's a challenge in the week ahead. I'm flying to Wellington tomorrow, coming back home on Thursday. So I'll be trying to eat healthily while away from home. This is going to be difficult.

Weigh-in 26

Start weight: 178.8 kg (394.2 lbs)
Last week's weight: 139.7 kg (308 lbs)
Current weight: 138.6 kg (305.6 lbs)
Loss this week: 1.1 kg (2.4 lbs)
Overall loss: 40.2 kg (88.6 lbs)
Start BMI: 56.4
Last week's BMI: 44.1
Current BMI: 43.7

I had not expected when I started this journey that I would reach this point so quickly. I thought a 60 kg target was a bold one which I might only barely achieve within the year. But here I am at 6 months, two thirds of my way to achieving that goal. I'm confident I can achieve the next 20 kg in the next 6 months. Probably less than that. But for now I'm going to continue focusing on more immediate goals. In July, I want to achieve the following:

• Get below 300 lbs
• Complete Phase III
• Achieve the 100 lbs milestone

I'm feeling really good about this. I look a great deal different than I used to. I have more energy too, now no longer carrying around the equivalent of a bag of cement.