Month 1: Lost 16 lbs

After 1 month, I lost 16 lbs. The month started with a vow: I would become fit in 2010. This vow came as a result of misinterpretting my scale, when I thought I topped 300 lbs for the first time. Fortunately instead of 301, I was only 281. On January 1st, I resolved to keep an eye on my portions. A facebook friend saw my weightloss resolution and pointed me to MFP.

I knew that with my weight, arthritis in my feet, bad knees, and bad shoulders I was going to be challenged to exercise. The week after New Years, I invested in a recumbant exercise bike. I was amazed at how little I could do on the bike. However, I stuck with it and I am now building my stamina, resistance, and calories burned.

Mid-month, my pastor challenged everyone to a 6 day fast; three days of nothing but fruits and vegetables and three days of a liquid fast. I was amazed when I hit the liquid fast. I made it 48 hours without even craving any food. I suspect I could have made it all 72 hours, but my wife and I took a weekend trip away. On the trip, I gained back a pound, but I attribute that to coming off the fast.

As the month progressed, I continued to lose weight. But, at the end of the month, I discovered that I have been overlooking a few things. First, I have frequently gone way over on my sodium, which is hamstringing my water weight loss. Second, I have thought if eating 5 calories less is good, then eating 50 calories less is better, and eating 500 calories less is great. However, I have learned the dangers of not eating enough calories. I am looking forward to seeing what happens this month.