Dan Nied's Fortress of Weight Loss: Day 54
Published February 19, 2008
From: Kevin
Comments: I'd have to agree with Guy. I don't want to say that you are taking it more serious this time, but it sounds like this is more of a life change rather than a project. I think the key is going to be keeping things new-new forms of exercise, new ways to cook food, etc...
I grouped these together because they all kind of tie in. Obviously, Guy and Kevin see this for what I hope it will eventually become. Jacob, sees this as something I am doing half-assedly. I can’t totally refute his bashings either.
Certainly I could have done a lot of things better, I could have made better choices, and stayed on course a little more faithfully instead of wandering from time to time. I’ve been the first to admit when I’ve made mistakes, and I will admit now that I’ve made a lot more mistakes than I am comfortable with.
But, of course, I disagree with the statement that this is just me "eating a little healthier a few days a week.." I think I deserve a little more credit than that. What is a "diet" if not eating healthier a few days a week? Not to mention the fact that last week was the only one where I had more than one off day. Hey, I’ll say it, I fucked up last week. Multiple times. And I am pretty mad at myself for it. But does that mean that this hasn’t been a success? Does that mean I didn’t lose 25 pounds in less than two months (a 12-pound per month average isn’t anything to scoff at, even if you do start at 300 pounds).
I wince at my failures, but I stand up for my accomplishments. I hang my head in sorrow when I knowingly make a bad decision, but I shout as loud as I can when another pound comes off. I am fueled not by failure, but by past, present and future success. And no, this isn’t a "diet". I’ll admit that. Because I don’t want to do this for four months, lose my 60 pounds and then start to gain it back. No, Guy and Kevin have it right, at least as far as my goals go. I want this to be something I can continue long after this blog has been forgotten by all of you.
The key to this is changing my habits. Fat people don’t necessarily have lower than normal will power. Nor do they necessarily have self-destructive personalities. Many times, fat people become that way simply because they make poor choices. And once they make those choices repeatedly, they become habit. Therefore, it is easier to stop by McDonalds on the way home from work instead of cooking up some stir-fry. It’s easier to fall out of the habit of going to the gym three or four times per week. (which is why I have been less than perfect in my attendance, and why I am so hard on myself when I don’t go…By the way, I went today and ellipticised.) So what I am trying to do is replace those old bad habits with new productive habits.
- Dan Nied's Fortress of Weight Loss: Day 54
- Published: February 19, 2008
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Sci/Tech
- Filed Under: Culture: Society, Sci/Tech: Health/Fitness
- Part of a feature: Dan Nied's Fortress of Weight Loss
- Writer: Dan Nied
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Comments on this articleComments
Great job as usual. Your attitude remains an inspiration.
So you DO do weigh ins more than once a week, but you only have one official weekly weigh-in?
So basically, you see the wisdom of having more than a weekly weigh-in as is the common wisdom in the weight loss world, but the others don't count for you because they aren't official? I feel as if all that stuff about doing it your way is a lot of blathering on. And yet, you make this honest revelation.
This is beginning to remind me of those confessional dramas and make me think that perhaps you need a mental check up.
I weigh in every day. Every morning. Every day is an official weigh in. I make sure I'm not overweight or underweight.
In general American society is much harsher with women who are overweight. So I wonder how you treat overweight women and if you'd consider dating one. When you're talking about seeing a boob for free (not hard in this country IMHO) and getting some ass, it doesn't sound like you're ready for a fruitful, meaningful relationship.
It sounds like a crass 15-year-old talking.
jesus, p.t....
that was some harshness. i'm in a serious, committed relationship and i still turn into a giddy little pervert as soon as the top comes off.
call me what you will, but i doubt that i'm some 15-year-old... and i doubt dan is as well.
daily weigh-ins are not recommened at all for real measurement. It is not an accurate weight. There are other factors affecting the scale besides food and exercise - so once a week is the way to go.
Purple Tigress! You're back! Where were you all this time? I missed the beratings. I'll talk about it a little more later this week, but I think I need the harsh comments, someone to share negative views on the Fortress. If it is all lollipops and congratulations (not that I don't love those, too), it is easy to lose focus as to what the real goal is. So thanks for offering your views. And thanks Zing Zang (if that is your real name) for defending me. Women don't truly understand the power that boobs have over guys.
P.T., the big problem with daily weigh-ins is that weight can vary quite a bit due to factors other than eating, and there is often a delay between an eating event and the increased weight gain associated with that event. If I weight a pound more on Tuesday, I'm liable to think I did something wrong on Monday, when it could just as easily have been Sunday, Thursday, or a random weird schedule alteration.
Weighing weekly keeps one from getting bogged down on chasing details.
Awww Dan, you do care! Thanks for posting on one of mine.
I'm beginning to think that P.T. is Jillian from The Biggest Loser (in episodes 7 & 8 or during any "last chance workout").
I never heard you say you were ready for a meaningful and "fruitful" relationship. I heard you working on yourself, for your own needs, sharing yourself for your needs (and the bonus is that it helps others) and that you are doing it your way in your own time. In fact, that 240 'girl across the room' was just a metaphor...right? (please say yes). So someone might need to reread your story.
And you know what? sometimes you do sound like a crass 15 year old...I love that about your posts! I laughed at the boob (for free) line. But then again, I have both a sense of humor AND an appreciation for the fact that there is more than just MY way of doing things.
Take care.
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You gotta love viewer mail days. And I stand by my comment that I think you've begun to look at this more as a life change. I know you said all along that it was, but often times your actions revealed you to be, at best, dillusional and at worst, a liar.
I think it's worth noting that you still have a long way to go in terms of this thing making you the best person you can be. I know you can cook for yourself more, that you can keep a serious food journal, that you can count calories better and that you can make healthier eating choices- both on off days and regular days. But I'm not going to beat you over the head with it.
Jake's tough love approach isn't slanderous but it isn't really that helpful either. Anyone who knows you, knows you gravitate toward the path of least resistance the way a wingless plane would gravitate toward earth. This whole deal involves many small steps towards rethinking that perception- but you have to follow through.
Good to hear from Jake though- I would have thought for sure that he would have been knifed in some bar fight by now for running his legendary mouth.