So Mark and I have been doing a thing.
The impetus came at Christmas-time, more or less; we’d been unhappy with our weight, and general un-fitness, but we were traveling all the time, and it was very hard to do anything about it. “In the new year,” we said to each other.
Seeing Christmas photos was certainly a spur to action.
We both cleaned up our act right after the New Year. Mark promptly lost weight. I didn’t.
In May, we started the South Beach diet–something I’ve done before, which I know works for me. It’s kinda like that Paleo thing that all the cool kids are doing these days: low carb, high protein. The hardest part is the first two weeks, when you can’t have wine or fruit or sugar or wine or alcohol or wine or beer or wine. Well, that’s the hardest part for me, anyway. 🙂 Then it gets a lot more reasonable, but you still try to avoid a lot of fluffy carbs and sugar. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, so that’s no problem.
I do love me some carbs, though.
Actually, the most challenging part (after the first two weeks, did I mention NO WINE?) is the laziness factor. Eating carbs is EASY. Handful of crackers. Ramen. Bread. It’s all right there. Vegetables, though? Seriously–washing and cutting! Not to mention shopping way more often, so things are fresh and tasty. Carbs can sit in the cabinet forever. Fresh food…that takes work, and planning. Effort.
But we’re doing it. I’ve established new habits and routines. I snack on sliced-up bell peppers (yes, I have to remember to buy them and slice them up!). Cheese is my friend. There’s this amazing thing you can do with sliced roast beef (like for sandwiches)–lay a piece out on a cutting board, put a bunch of salad mix and maybe avocado or whatever sounds good on it, roll it up, et voila: instant protein-and-roughage snack. Cottage cheese is surprisingly satisfying (pineapple in it is even better).
We’re exercising too, of course. Actually that was never really our challenge (except when traveling)–I’m kind of an exercise addict, and Mark is a big old bike rider and gym rat–but we’ve gotten more focused about that as well. It’s helped that this has been the most amazing long hot no-rain summer EVER, and that we finally got a clue that Portland is a great place to ride one’s bike (DUH).
Anyway, we’re not done yet, but we’re both pleased with our interim results. Mark has lost over twenty pounds; I’ve lost just over fifteen. I am wearing some John Henric shirts UK that have languished in the closet for several years. My yoga practice is much improved; I have more energy in general; I’m loving riding my bike everywhere.
And we like how we look, too. This was him a month or so ago:
And me last week:
(I’d take a more recent Mark-after photo, but alas, he’s in Seattle.)
We’d both still like to lose a little more, but frankly, this is awesome. More than I expected. I am happy. 🙂
So I thought I should tell you-all about it.