2-27-07
265/240/200
Day 58 and still 25 pounds gone

Got on my scales this morning, and I think a moderate wind could have
blown the indicator below 240, but it was not to be. So still at 240.
However, with the slight excesses of Saturday and Sunday behind me,
the week looks good for making good progress. Had about 1000 calories
yesterday and hope to have about the same today, etc.

Psychologist Daniel S. Kirschenbaum, Ph.D., wrote a book entitled,
"The 9 Truths about Weight Loss," which I think is pretty good.

On page 4 starts this:
"Beyond Moderation

"Undoubtedly the most common advice you've ever heard about losing
weight is "Everything in moderation." It all boils down to chicken-
soup ideas like:

- "Don't try to lose weight too fast - you'll put it back on fast if
you lose it too fast."

- "Don't exercise too much - you'll hurt yourself (or "Your body needs
to rest").

- "If you deprive yourself too much (especially of your favorite
foods), you'll start having all-out binges."

"These ideas about moderation sound plausible. Can't you just see your
mother or grandmother shaking a finger at you and cajoling you about
taking it easy? There's only one problem: They're wrong. Weight
control doesn't follow this logical, sensible, middle-of-the-road game
plan. Your biology follows its own game plan; it's a very primitive
taskmaster. As Truth #1 suggests ["Your body will resist permanent
weight loss."], your biology is simply too tough for such a moderate
approach.

"Only Highly Intensive and Consistent Efforts at Weight Control Really
Work

"The National Weight Control Registry includes responses to surveys by
more than two thousand people who have lost, on average, 60 pounds
each and kept it off for six years. These "master weight controllers"
had lost, and regained, an average of 270 pounds before their
successful effort took hold. Another survey of two hundred masters
found that the truly successful weight-loss effort came only after an
average of five previous temporarily successful weight losses. When
the masters compared their successful efforts to previous attempts,
the biggest difference was that they took a far more intensive
approach. In fact, the majority of the masters used a much stricter
dietary regimen (with minimal fat), and more than 80 percent reported
that they exercised far more than in their previous attempts. They
also reported paying far more careful attention to exactly what they
ate, their weight, and their exercise during the attempts that led to
long-term success..."

I sure agree with what Kirschenbaum proposes - that of successful
weight loss involving not noodling around the edges. For me,
moderation means loss of task focus and a tendency to occasionally -
and then more and more often - take in many more calories than I
should. I haven't looked at the National Registry myself but
Kirschenbaum's observations that the masters lost their weight at the
end with a "much stricter dietary regimen" is interesting. (I would
imagine that this implies a stricter caloric control but am not clear
about this.)

Anyway, I don't intend to be "moderate" and middle-of-the-road
regarding my dieting behaviors. So far I am making good progress and I
know that this will continue, unless the laws of physics are suspended
in my kitchen.

Have a great day and a great rest of the week!

Yours truly,

Caleb