Week 14: Excuses vs. Explanations

Last week's number: 304.3 pounds
This week's number: 306.4 pounds
Week-to-week loss: -2.1 pounds
Net loss: 43.6 pounds

I am rather alarmed by this figure. This is two consecutive weeks that I've gained, so I'm stepping things up even more this week. Some of this gain is due to a loss of discipline on my part, and some is due to a change in medication. I have been taking a diuretic to regulate my blood pressure, and upon the advice of the doctor monitoring the program I discontinued it briefly to see how I would respond. Obviously I still need the medication, as not only did my weight go up, so did my blood pressure. All the weight I've been carrying has indeed taken its toll.

Some might consider this just an excuse for poor performance. There is a fine distinction between an excuse and an explanation that most people seem to forget. An excuse is exactly that: a reason not to continue. An explanation seeks to understand why the change took place, and find ways to reverse or mitigate it.

Lots of people have excuses. Very few people have, or want, explanations.

Since this weigh-in I've been much more diligent about my diet and exercise, and I've resumed taking the medication. It seems to have worked. As of this morning, using the home scale (which will be the only scale I have after next week) I checked in at 295.8 pounds--my lowest weight in nearly a decade, and within ten pounds of my halfway point! Shedding the excess fluid helped!

Next week will be my final weigh-in with the program, although I will continue using the low-calorie foods until I wean myself off of them. Both Sandy and I are dedicated to making better health choices, even though she was unable to complete the program I'm on because of recent events. Less fried food and fast food, more vegetables and fruits. The juicer is about to get a workout!

Speaking of which, I need to start working out even harder. Now that I can feel more muscle than fat in my abdomen, I also feel the need to tighten that muscle up. That race in November is getting closer every day...