I really had intended to be more
consistent with blogging about my progress towards a more ideal weight and a
healthier lifestyle. I’ve been totally inconsistent in that regard.
In any event, I am sitting on an
airplane at the moment, and decided to take this time to catch up on a few
things that have ended up on a back burner … including my blog about my efforts
at losing weight and developing a healthier approach to my life. I am not
heading into about the seventh week in my efforts to drop the pounds and live
healthier.
Last Tuesday, I had a medical
appointment and faced the scales as part of the preliminaries. I have lost 20
pounds since I began this process. I actually am happy about the amount of
weight I have lost to date. It is a little over one-third of my ultimate goal.
In reflecting on what I have done
in regard to my weight loss, I have the following observations, some of which I
touched on in prior blog posts.
First, I have increased the amount
of time I spend walking on a daily basis. This includes walking that I
incorporate into my day to day life as well as time set aside specifically for
walking. Because my overeating tendencies usually are related to stress, walking
not only burns calories but it serves to lower my stress level.
Second, I no longer drink soda pop.
I have mentioned previously that eliminating soda pop reduced my daily average
caloric intake by about 900 calories. In reality, that is about 50 percent of
the daily level of calories I should be consuming. (Needless to say, I had been
sucking in far and above the recommended daily calorie intake … for a long
time.)
I did break down and have a soda
pop a couple of days ago – because I was particularly stressed out. I caught
myself and finished one and no more soda pops. When dieting, there will be
slip-ups. That is just a fact of the process.
Third, I have really regulated my
portion size. I have reached a point where I simply cannot eat meal portions that
are beyond what is appropriate. This includes when I go to a restaurant.
Fourth, I have cut the frequency of
desserts I eat. I have not abandoned desserts all together. I have a true sweet
tooth and an occasional dessert is not an unreasonable diet choice. But, I pay
attention to the kind of dessert I select and the portion size. I do not eat
desserts when I am feeling stressed.
Finally, I am working twice a week
with a personal trainer. I will discuss this in greater detail in future blog
posts. This addition to my routine has been very beneficial. I do want to give
my trainer a bit of a plug. He is Adam Ayers and recently returned to Denver to
work with clients and classes.
I try to include a photo with each blog post. In this instance, I post a photo of Kathleen Sebelius, a long time friend of mine, who I saw a couple of days ago at an event in Kansas. I do so for two reasons. With my weight loss to date, I am feeling more comfortable having my photo taken ... I can see the difference in my appearance. And, who better to include in my blog about healthy living than the former Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Mike Broemmel & Kathleen Sebelius
Stay tuned.
www.mikebroemmel.com
www.theatrixusa.org
www.act-one-productions.com
