amerigoV's new adventure

[kramday]

That is great. You got to love positive feedback. I bought a new scale that shows percent body fat as well. You should be able to find one for around $30 or so.

[BigDog]

Excellent, congrats! My tell-tales are pants and my wedding ring.

[amerigoV]

That is great. You got to love positive feedback. I bought a new scale that shows percent body fat as well. You should be able to find one for around $30 or so.

Just curious the mechanics behind that. Do you program in height and it just estimates your muscle weight based on averages?

I am a bit scared to get on and find out the % body fat (toooo fat).

[JO]

Congrats, way to go!

I also have been thinking about a new scale. My old one has moved from CA, to FLA, to OH and I don't think it managed the moves well. The needle never stays on zero and I have to readjust it everytime I use it. Big pain! Do you like the one with the body fat measurement?

[kramday]

I honestly don't know how it works. You program in your height, age, and gender and then it does the calculation. I do think that it is more complex than just averages though, as you have to be on the scale barefoot. I compared it to another machine at the gym last night and mine was a little higher, but not enough that I am going to worry about it.

JO--I do like the new scale. It always zero's itself back out whenever it turns off, so you don't have to worry about that. Plus it is giving you an actual number rather than trying to read the needle.

[kramday]

You should ask one of the docs in your gaming group. I bet one of them would know how the scales work.

[amerigoV]

The scale I picked up says it shoots a beam into you. I presume the density of fat vs. muscle creates a timing difference on the beam coming back.

[amerigoV]

Just a nice note: my target loss is about 50lbs. I am now 20% to goal (10 lbs loss). So far, the system has been pretty good. I feel this is real weight loss and not just water weight (I am seeing a reduction in girth).

So, I have the following waypoints and milestones.

Waypoints (20% increments)
10 lbs (206.5)
20 lbs (196.5)
30 lbs (186.5)
40 lbs (176.5)
50 lbs (166.5)

Milestones
under 200 (good symbolic start)
190 (my approx weight when I came up to Michigan)
170 (my "light" weight as an adult)
165ish (I am not quite sure what my ultimate weight given that I have a more muscular base than the average person of my height. Will have to play this by ear - could be as low as into the 150s).

[BigDog]

Sounds like you're on your way. How do you transition to 'normal food' again or do you plan to be using the prepped food going forward?

[kramday]

20% is a nice number to be at for a the first month. I'm wondering about the food transition as well.

[amerigoV]

The system does help you learn portions and timing. Once I hit waypoint 4, then I will worry about how I will actually feed myself.

[amerigoV]

I am not overly worried. It is getting me in a good habit of salads and veggies as side dishes. That leaves you to have a smaller main meal -- a piece of chicken, some whole grain pasta, or something similiar. That was one of my problems -- instead of having a side dish, I would eat a bigger main meal.

[kramday]

So how has the week down in Columbus been for working your plan?

[amerigoV]

Overall, it has not been bad. Today was the only day I have strayed from it (lunch with the old Mercer gang). I will not really know how it all went until Monday morning (there may be a scale around here, but I want to use a consistent measuring device).

I have also been riding the recumbant bike I got Christine for xmas. So, hopefully the progress will continue.

[amerigoV]

Felt real good all week, felt and looked "thinner." Hopefully, have lost a few more pounds (official weigh in Monday AM).

However, there are some sobering moments during this process. I had a gift certificate at a scuba shop that was nearing expiration. Got a new mask and I bought what is called a "shortee" (watch the jokes, people) -- it is a wetsuit used in warm water. You need a full weight suit (of varying thickness) for water in the 70s, a dry suit for lower temps (you can wear anything you want under a drysuit to help keep you warm). The Caribbean is usually in the low to mid 80s and I never needed a wetsuit at all. Just wanted one so that I look the part more than anything else (you still lose body heat in 80+ degree water, so it still has its benefits). The shortee does not have the long sleeves and legs -- sort of a "summer outfit" for diving.

Anyway, they are very tight fitting -- leaves nothing to hide about your shape - lets just say I still have a long way to go. I will not be diving with it until Octoberish with my dive group -- so we will see how much my shape changes. I can exchange if I need to so long as I have not dived in it, but years of lifting has broaden my chest, so this probably is the size I need regardless of the belly.

So, another piece of motivation.