Since I realized in January of this year that I had gained back all of the weight I lost in Paraguay (about 30 lbs) I have been trying to get it back off. I would be OK for a week but would quickly lose steam. I couldn’t stop cheating. I lost and gained 10 lbs probably four or five times throughout the year, never getting below 300 again (my lowest recorded weight in Paraguay was 267).
Last Tuesday, I think that ended.
A friend of mine linked me to an article plugging a book by a guy named Tim Ferriss called The 4-Hour Body. I read the article and was intrigued by the claims. There’s essentially not much more than adjusting your diet, so I figured I’d give it a shot. I started that evening.
The gist is that you eat 3 or 4 times a day, but you eat only protein, legumes, and vegetables. Something from each category, as much as you feel like eating. The point is there’s absolutely no starving yourself. This is not a low-calorie diet, it’s simply a change in the types of food I’m eating. For example, this morning I scrambled two eggs with a bunch of peppers, onions, and some pinto beans. Essentially I have stopped eating white carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, etc.) and started eating legumes (lentils, beans) and piling on the veggies. This is rigidly adhered to for six days; on the seventh (Saturdays) I eat the way I used to.
I found that it was very easy to eat this restricted diet without feeling that I was depriving myself. The legumes and protein keep you feeling satisfied. I even successfully – for literally the first time in my life – was able to say no to donuts TWICE last week. I don’t even crave the sweets we have in our area at work, and I think it’s because I don’t eat sugar anymore (except on Saturdays). I can’t even explain to you how revolutionary that is to me. That has literally never happened before in my life. Sweets have always been a challenge to me. Now they’re just only sometimes slightly annoying.
You may be waiting for the results. Remember, the only thing I have changed this week was the type of food I ate. I didn’t even exercise this week (I should, I just didn’t). I was astounded when I weighed myself this morning. Last Tuesday morning I weighed 309.8 pounds.
This week I weighed 303.8. It blows my mind that I lost six pounds this week only by changing the type of food I ate. I don’t understand it, but I accept it.
The changes that happen in my body due to what I read in this book are what is driving this blog idea in the first place. Part of what’s going to keep me accountable and excited about this journey will be sharing it with you. I hope you come back often.
I’ll end by posting my numbers. In addition to weight, I’ll be taking measurements of my arms, legs, waist, and hips. I’m going to try to consistently update them. I know I’ve said that in the past and haven’t been consistent, but I’ve also never been as gung ho about fat loss as this. I’m definitely amped enough to go another week.
As of December 21, 2010
Total inches: 199.7
Weight: 303.8
If you’re doing the protocol prescribed in The 4-Hour Body, I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a line in the comments and let me know how it’s working for you.
-j
(note: If you feel like you’ve read this article before, you probably read it on my personal blog, before I started this one)
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Posted to google.com
I Finally Found It!
http://www.findingmyfitness.com/2010/12/i-finally-found-it/
December 23 2010, 9:18pm | Comments »
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