From "Diet the Verb" to "Diet the Noun"

On my post on March 2nd I reported having been successful in losing 11 pounds during the month of February and asking if my "diet" was over or just beginning. It turns out it was only beginning.

In March and April, just continuing the habits I had begin to form the month before, I lost another 12 pounds to end April at 182#. This was down from 205# at the start of February and essentially right at the ideal weight for my 6' frame. So as far as losing weight, I'd had an unqualified success. You can check back to my earlier posts for the details of what I did and how I did it.

12FEB20     https://bit.ly/3cQcfIQ
17FEB20     https://bit.ly/3cQVdu7
02MAR20    https://bit.ly/37pR5QL

I discovered two things in April. First, its nearly impossible to maintain an exact target weight. After obsessing over it for a week or so I realized that it is perfectly fine to fluctuate a bit. Even over the course of a day one's weight will vary, so to expect to be able to adjust your calorie intake and output to maintain an exact weight (185# in my case) is pointless and probably neither healthy nor possible. So I content myself with remaining in a range from 180# to 185#, which I have been able to do with ease. I still have to count calories (the Cronometer app makes it almost embarrassingly easy) and I still have to exercise every day but that has become almost a habit now.

The second discovery I made was (again because of the detailed reporting that the app provides by default) was that even though I was staying right at my goal weight, my diet still needed some work. Yes, I had the calorie balance right. But a look at the nutritional composition of my diet clearly showed the need for some adjustment in what I was eating and not just how much.

I was regularly consuming too much fat, sodium, sugar, iron and several B-vitamins. I was also coming up surprising short on protein, water, potassium (important for regulating my blood pressure), and several exotic vitamins and minerals. This despite taking Reliv supplements every day.

Awareness is the first step toward action, so now that I know where I can improve I can set about rebalancing what I eat to achieve a better nutrition profile.

This is all a whole let less work than it seems. And the payoff was a "perfect" visit with my doctor for my annual checkup. Time now to change from "diet the verb" to "diet the noun".