Erik's Journal
Rediscovering Calorie CountJul 30 2008 19:35
Somehow, it happened. I slipped. I stopped logging my weight regularly, stopped working out, and stopped watching what I was eating. My diet had gone off the rails.
By late last year, I realized action needed to be taken. My BMI was showing me as moderately overweight, my clothes had stopped fitting, and I was feeling terrible. How could this have happened to me? Shouldn't I know what I'm doing!?
It was time to go back to basics and rediscover the tools here on Calorie Count.
I started logging my weight daily, watching my green trend weight, kept a food journal and made sure I was hitting my daily calorie goals.
Around this time, a friend encouraged me to start running again. It was slow progress - working up from being able to run 2 miles without stopping, continuing to 3, then 4, and on and on.
As you can see from the weight graph above, I eventually got back on track, maintaining a healthy weight loss of 1-2 lbs a week and recently hitting my target weight of 180lbs, with a healthy BMI of 23.
Now, it's been a goal of mine to run a half marathon for quite a while and I've come pretty close to actually doing it in the past, but I've never quite felt confident enough or had the pieces falling into place at the right time. So, it was with some fear that I entered the lottery for the Nike NYC Half Marathon this past March, finding out in early June that I had been accepted!
Well, this past Sunday, I'm proud to report I completed the course, running around Central Park, through cheering fans in Times Square, and down the West Side Highway past the World Trade Center Site to the finish line, ending very close to my goal time of 2hrs.
We all face challenges and occasionally slip up. Just remember - it's never too late to turn things around. Tomorrow is a new day and a new opportunity.
Good for you! Congratulations. |
Congrats on making it close to your time. You make it all seem possible for everyone of us. |
you did great!! |
You're an inspiration! |
Congrats!! Great job, Erik! |
You are so right, it always comes back to the basics, not only in weight management and health, but in most other areas in life, too. Keep up the good work : ) |
Congratulations! |
So happy for you! :D |
Erik, Congratulations!!! |
That's great Erik!!! Thank you for a well worded journal entry! You are right we all do face challenges and slip ups and we are the only ones that can make the changes to succeed! Thank you for Calorie Count! I truly appreciate this website! |
that's a terrific accomplishment! i am so glad you emailed that link!! i will reach my goal of maintaining for two years next tuesday, and am busy planning meals and logging (as "delin") for my better half who finally "caved" in may and has already dropped 17 lb. i keep my old c-c account and use my new "alias" for ccplus so i can switch back and forth without having to log in and out. thanks again for all you have done for us!!! elin p.s. we're planning to walk the mackinac bridge for our 40th wedding anniversary celebration on sept. 1! google mackinac bridge walk for some awesome pictures of past walks. |
That's was such an inspiration, it came along at just the right time for me. |
Erik, It's good to know that we can make changes and slip up and still get back on track. I have gone through the same kind of thing with a move across the country which I Lost a running partner with the move. And then lack of motivation caused many theraputic baking sessions, which lead to theraputic eating sessions, which then lead to guilt and punishment in my own cruel mind. Gaining a few pounds caused me to look at myself and not like what I saw. It's a hard cycle to break. I think each time you step away from unhealthy habits you learn something new about yourself, the world and your ability to have contol over what you felt at some point was hopeless. Bravo and keep up the good work- just remember you deserve it! Stacey |
That must have been exciting, running in a NY marathon, and in a healthy personal time, felt really accomplished after that i bet eh! When i was younger i was pretty athletic too, more of a sprinter though but i sure know the feeling. Thanks for the inspiration and sharing!!...Nancy |
Wow, that's amazing! Congratulations! Thank you SO much for Calorie Count, I'm glad you emailed this link. I'll save this entry for when I'm next feeling down... Safiyah |
Excellent job. Well done, young man. :) This is certainly a recurring theme isn't it? Maintenance seems to be a lot trickier than people think. Obviously, there's the mentality with some people that counting and logging have a time limit - in the pursuit of what people consider 'normal' eating habits. Every time my weight has rebounded, in the past, it was always because, at some level, I thought I was 'done' with a diet, or I didn't believe I could keep up the regimen. Your entry could not have come at a better time. I think it's important for people who may be struggling right now, to realize everyone, even the site founders, have to do the work. In order to achieve and maintain success folks must, in my opinion, learn to truly embrace the process as a life long commitment, without feeling as if they are somehow lacking, if they count calories. Forgive me for using your journal as a soap box. I just find this phase of the process really interesting, as it was always my downfall in the past. :) |
Thats awesome Erik!!!!
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Erik, I cannot tell you how very thrilled I am for you! Of course I empathize completely with the weight loss-weight gain-weight loss story, and am very impressed with the way you kept on to success. But I am truly, truly excited to read about you finishing your first half marathon!!! I remember too well the first virtual 5k. ;) To know that you not only ran a half, but were able to do it in such a big race and in such a great time for a first is simply fantastic. Great job! Being able to find joy in running is a blessing, and one that I am so very happy you seem to have discovered. |
having only run one 5k, and wishing i could do it again some day, this gives me a lot of hope. you're truly an inspiration, as cheezy as that may sound. i've been with calorie count for a long time and sometimes i log, sometimes i don't, but no matter what, i never quit the program or give up. a friend and i were talking last night [a total loss of 290 pounds between us] and we talked about how weight los should come with a warning label: "you will never be able to truly go back to your old ways without obsessing over it from now on, once you realize what must be done to LOSE it." and it's so true. we might gain or lose a litle [or a lot] but the fact remains, we ALL have the tools and the power to lose it, it's just a matter of what priorities you want weight to be at a certain time in your life. for me, sometimes that means weighing more in order to work on my career or family. even illness can account for a lot of gains [and losses]. so bravo! i am lad you showed that ups and downs are REALISTIC and happen to us all... but the end of the road is just a figment o our imaginations. we always have the ability to CHOOSE something different. i love your words! |
Fan-freaking-tastic!!! Way to go, Erik! |
Kudos to you. Keep up the great work. You are definitely an inspiration. |
Congratulations and Happy Birthday tomorrow. I want to much to get back on track. Thanks for the motivation.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US! |
Some day when I get to maintenance, I'm going to recall your story to keep myself on my toes. |
That is quite an accomplishment and I can understand just how you feel. I completed the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer this year in Keystone, CO. I walked rather than ran. I did 26 miles in two days and raised $1800. The problem is now I am sliding back into my old pattern so your accomplishment will help me get back on track! I will be weighing, exercising, and keeping a food diary. Thanks |
Reading your story was just the incentive that I needed to get back in the game. Thank you for your inspiration. |
A lot of us needed a pep talk.
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