Goal 1: Weight Problem
Alright, I have decided to take the plunge and commit to my first public goal. I have a weight problem. I am 5 feet 11 inches tall and weigh (as of this morning before my shower) 118 pounds. What, you thought I was going to say I was overweight? Let me tell you, for those of you that have never been vastly underweight, believe me, it is no treat.
Here is the 'skinny' on me and my weight problem. I would say that up until about 8th grade, I was average...average height and average weight. As I grew upward in high school, I just never built out. I always remember eating just as much as everybody else, but the weight just never stuck. I think sometimes I burned more calories chewing my food than it was worth. I remember when I was 17, I went to the doctor (for a flu) and I asked about what I could do to put on weight. They always laugh at you a little when you ask that. He assured me that in a year or two, I would would somehow just start accumulating weight without changing a thing. I wonder how a fat person would feel if they asked a doctor about losing weight and they laughed at you and basically told you 'just keep doing what you are doing and everything will be fine.'
So, that was 16 years ago. At that time, I believe I weighed 122 pounds. I am a few pounds lighter now. I have gone in spurts of trying to gain weight before. My body just wouldn't have it. I bought the high-calorie weight gain powder that tasks like thick chocolate chalk. No noticeable affects.
Some would say that they would love to have the problem of such a high metabolism. I eat as much of anything I want, until I am full, and there are no physical repurcussions. Fried foods, fatty foods, greasy fast food...my body handles them all the same and manages to not put on a pound. That would be great if I weighed 165 pounds and looked healthier and not as gaunt. Bottom line, I look weak and I feel weak. My cirulation is not very good and I am always cold. If I sit in a hard chair for more than a few minutes, the bottom of my tailbone gets bruised because there is no fat surrounding it. My admas apple looks big becuase my neck has no fat. I can't find harldy any pands that fit in the waist. I wear a 28 inch waist although my waist is actually only 26 inches around. Frustrating, because other than eating, how do you gain weight? Every meal I have, I eat until I am full.
So, with this goal, it will be the opposite of 'The Biggest Loser'. I actually want to become a 'Big Gainer'. It is ironic, though, that it was the show 'The Biggest Loser' that is actually inspiring me to chase this goal. What these people are able to accomplish in completely trasforming themselves is truly inspiring. Each week, you can see the differences, and you can see how hard they are working to change their lives. As they change, you can also see their attitudes improve and confidence levels rise. By acheiving their weight loss goals, it so obviously empowers them and they appreciate life more than ever.
While I will be going in the opposite direction with the weight, I would have to believe the end result benefits will be entirely similar. I am hoping that with each successful week that I chip away at my goal, I will realize the accomplishment I am making. Take pride in the fact I am tranforming my body one little bit at a time, and be more confident in myself as my physique changes.
Whew...with all that said, here is the goal:
By April 1st, 2006 I want to be at a weight of 148 pounds. That is a gain of 30 pounds in just over 15 weeks. Obviously, I don't want to gain 30 pounds of fat on by belly, so I am wanting the majority of it to be muscle, although a little fat would not hurt me if it is evenly distributed.
In 'Biggest Loser' terms, I will be gaining 25% of my current body weight in a little over 3 1/2 months.
While I am plannning on having to continuously modify my strategies in meeting this goal, going in I will just these 3 simple strategies.
1. Try to 'ALWAYS' have a full feeling in my stomach. Currently, I get full whenever I eat, but am fine to go a long time between meals.
2. Eat breakfast. This one is actually going to be a real challenge for me. I haven't ever been a big breakfast eater. Usually, I have to be awake 3 hours before food in my stomach even sounds good. I do drink coffee first thing every morning, so maybe I will have to find a breakfast I can drink.
3. I have to start working out a bit. I want to be careful here because I don't want to burn the calories I am taking in. I just want to do whatever I can to gain more muscle than fat.
Like I mentioned in my introduction, I don't yet have any answers. If any readers have any help they can offer me that will help me reach this first public goal I am setting for myself, please chime in.
