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6 diets that won't work

As you are probably well aware, many in America like to focus on losing weight around the first part of the new year. I am usually one of them... Newsweek, has a really good little article that highlights the top, current fad-diets and points out their faults. (read it here or there)

I have seen a little success so far this year in the battle against my waistline - but I am not dieting! I have decided to participate in the age-old, wise-sage, yoda-like tradition called: Eat Less, Work Out More.

Here's the plan in a nutshell: I eat less than I normally would have and I try to eat better stuff than I used to, then I make myself get my butt of the couch and go work out. Since I am training for a triathlon, I can go run, or I can go the gym and swim, or I can hop on my bike. I've also added a little weight training to the mix and that is kicking my tail! ...but my plan seems to be working! Without really trying I am about five pounds lighter and counting.

EE update - day 16

Just as a way of explanation... The day after easter I committed to 45 days of eating right, exercising, and avoiding sweets. These updates serve as my journal...

Okay, last week was rough! I got sick - which threw everything off. I actually did pretty good on the front end of the week as far as working out and eating right - I was even avoiding dessert! But after getting sick, I shut down. My calories probably weren't that high, but I wasn't able to work out. When I am sick, I eat whatever I am in the mood for (which happened to be cheeseburgers and pizza). My body probably needed the rest, but I feel pretty low... I am down to about 191 - so 3-4 lbs so far.

Hopefully this week will turn out better. I didn't get to ride Monday because I was still coughing a lot - but today I start the workouts again...

For the record, this level of transparency is no fun!

EE update day 10

To catch you up... The day after Easter I committed to 45 days of exercise, eating right and staying away from sugar...

The good news:

• I am down a couple of pounds
• I have been working out regularly

The not-so-good news:

• I am having a difficult time saying no to dessert
• I am still not eating few enough calories for significant weight loss - not trying to starve myself, but I am consuming too many calories...that simple.

Over all, I can't really complain, but I can adjust a few things. I actually took Sunday off from workouts, and yesterday I used soccer practice as my workout. My body is a bit tired and I think I am a touch sick - or at least the pollen is getting to me... My biggest challenge is that I need to avoid dessert. I have a huge sweet tooth, so that is a weakness of mine.

EE day 5

So to recap... I said "Enoughs Enough" and the day after Easter I started a 45 day weight loss personal challenge with 3 agenda items: Exercise every day, eat better, stay away from sweets

So far, I have been able to work out every day. I've had a couple of late nights at the gym, and yesterday a very early day - but I have made it. Exercise makes me feel better about everything... For those who are curious. I ride a road bike about 75-100 miles a week. I've added some weight training and treadmill stuff to the mix. I also golf and play tennis when I get the chance. Golf (in my book) doesn't count as exercise if I don't walk, so I try to walk as much as I can when I play. I also get in a little extra calorie burn from two soccer practices with the kids I coach a week.

Yesterday, I had a day of meetings - literally... I was at the gym at 5:30am. I met David Smith at 7:45am. We came back from our meeting about 1:00pm, and I met with DM at 2:00pm. I had some office stuff in the afternoon, and had a 5:00pm meeting at the Quarries and a 7:00pm meeting at Westover Hills Church of Christ. I ate from other peoples agendas... In other words, we stopped for fast food, and I ate a BBQ dinner. At least I worked out - but I ate way too much fat for the day ...and I went crazy over some really amazing cookies...

I'll step back on the scale next week - but I'm working out, eating better (most days), and eating less sweets - even though it may not sound like it!

EE (enough's Enough) day two

98% of you do not care about this, and that's really okay... But for those of you who have decided to take my little 45 day challenge to eat better, workout every day, and stay away from sweets - I'm posting updates for you! So, I weighed in today at 194. That's not the heaviest I've ever been, but I want to lose 10-20 pounds. My doctor agrees that some weight loss would make me much healthier in the long run.

• Yesterday I ate really well. Dana cooked dinner and it was vegetable heavy. I did have two cupcakes to celebrate Caleb's birthday - I also rode 23 miles...

• Today I ate well again, but I skipped breakfast (due to forgetting). I ate a healthy small lunch and Dana and I both cooked dinner - again vegetable intensive with fruit for desert - and a couple more cupcakes (I know, I know...) I ran around a bit at Ashley's soccer practice and Dana and I are headed to the gym later this evening.

Enough's enough

I feel fat. I'm not the heaviest I've ever been, but I feel miserable. I hit the limit today. It's time for a change. I've been working out pretty regularly, and I've actually been holding my own weight wise - but I've been eating way too much - and way too much junk.

The day after Easter, I'm starting a 45 day weight loss challenge. I want to lose 20 pounds. For 45 days I am going to exercise every day - restrict my intake to 1500 calories - and no sugar (other than what's in fruit).

I'm also going to blog about how it's working out... So how about you? Want to join me?

45 days - starting the day after Easter and ending May 7th - That means by summer we'll be fitter and skinnier - just in time for the main cycling season!!