I don’t like the word diet. It implies a temporary change, rather than a permanent one. Of course, we could refer to our good friend the dictionary, but society has turned away from the actual definition into something far more negative than I’d like to focus on.

It’s something that I’ve wanted for a long time. I remember as a kid watching the various “feasts” throughout the year, the times where family would get together and getting stuffed was the name of the game, and wondering if eating all that food was really a good idea. We’d be sleepy and uncomfortable afterward, but those are the best memories of my childhood.

Figuring Out The Balance

The way I see it, there’s nothing that says one can’t have those things. However, I think they have to be in moderation.

I’ve gone to cutting some things out completely, and moving to moderation-status with other things. For example, I’m cutting out soda, but I still do drink fruit juices occasionally (as I go through the weight loss phase of this journey, I may decide to cut that out as well).

I’m also building a food diary. You can build one as well at FitDay, but the best thing you can do for yourself is read. I’ve started at BodyBuilding.com and even PEERtrainer. There’s a zillion websites, which I’ll be booking on my diigo account (going to create a new diigo account for this purpose), and releasing to you fabulous readers. I’m sure I’m not the only one on this journey.

How I Exercise Now

I like variety. Some days I will wake up at 6:30am and go for a walk, aiming for 1.5-2.5 miles for that session. Since I’m restarting this journey for the 3rd time, I’m taking it slow — if I manage to get a mile in for the morning session, that’s fine.

I also have a gym membership — I try to go to the gym at least 2-3 times a week. I like to go more often, because when I don’t go, I’m lazy about working out. Because I’ve restarted back and forth before, and kept a moderate level of activity, it’s not that big of a deal to walk 2.5 miles a day. However, you will definitely want to start out very gently!

I’m big into cardio, but I’ll be starting my weight lifting regimen in a few weeks. For cardio, I like to hop on the treadmill for about 30 minutes, going at an average speed of 3.0 and an incline of 2.5. During the 30 minutes, I may up the speed all the way to 3.5 or even 4.0, but right now 3.2 is a nice speed for me personally. Once again, it’s all about challenging yourself without hurting yourself.

After that, I either go to the seated bike, or the elliptical machine for 20-30 minutes. I prefer the seated bike, as I find it quite challenging. The gym machines have several different programs to choose from; I really like the hill and fat burn programs.

Cool down & stretch again for 10 minutes, drink some water, and I’m good to go. I may treat myself to a protein shake / smoothie from the shake bar, but at $4 a pop, I’m better off buying meal replacement powder from GNC or equivalent and treating myself at home. But if you’ve already got a Starbucks addiction, then you’re not really as price-conscious as I’m being.

Next Lifestyle Purchases

As simple as it seems, I’ll be buying a new pair of gym shoes. Nothing too fancy, since I’m rough on shoes for workouts. I’ll also be treating myself to a pair of shoes and a cute, contoured top. I really believe that in order to motivate ourselves as plus size people, the clothes do make a difference. The big, lumpy clothes are a thing of the past. For me, my trick is just buying a shirt that’s one size smaller than what I’d normally get. I wear a 22 normally, so I get an 18/20. It’s close-fitting without screaming “sexy little gym bunny”…unless you like that sort of thing. I want to project a serious intent when I go to the gym, but your mileage will undoubtedly vary.

I am also going to restock my vitamins, fiber supplements, and pick up a big canister of meal replacement protein.

So, that’s what I’m doing right now. Oh, I forgot to mention the vital details:

I started this journey on 5/24/07, where I weighed a total of 280. Today I weighed myself at 241 pounds. I can’t find the measuring tape, another lifestyle purchase I need to make. I do notice a difference in the way my clothes are fitting, as I have gone from a 26/28 to a 22/24. I think the weightloss has been so profound since I’ve been carrying quite a bit of weight. As I continue towards my goal weight (180 pounds), I’m bound to experience a slowdown.

Next post, I’ll talk about the “pitfalls” and other downfalls I’ve experienced in the last few months. Stay tuned, and don’t be afraid to comment and tell me what you think!