So, I’ve started a weight loss program.  (I won’t call it a diet because it’s not a diet and I don’t believe in diets.)  I started a few weeks ago, though, so it can’t properly be called a New Year’s Resolution.  But that’s just as well, anyway, since everyone breaks those.

When I started this thing, I weighted 191.6 pounds, although I actually peaked above 192 a couple of days after starting.  I’d like to be around 170, which is what I was when I started college. (According to my BMI, even 170 is a hair above my “normal weight.” But the BMI has been widely criticized lately, and I’ve always been kindof big boned, even when I was skinny.) I’ve made half-hearted efforts to lose weight a few times, but it hasn’t amounted to much. I’ve been around 190 for the last couple of years, at least. But, I think I’ve devised a plan that might work for me, even though it isn’t much of a plan at all.

The plan, in short, is to weigh myself every morning and pay attention to what I eat.  If I’m at a new low then I declare success for the day — I can be a bit lax, if the occasion arises.  If not, though, then I need to be more careful about what I eat.  The longer I go without achieving a new low, the more tightly I’ll restrict my diet.  Note well, though, that I’m not imposing any specific rules about the restrictions that I will employ — just declaring that I will pay attention to my weight and to what I put in my mouth.

So far, this actually seems to be working.  I was down to 187.0 this morning, nearly 5 lbs off my starting point.  It’s the same weight as two days ago, so not a new low, but not bad considering that yesterday jumped back up to 188.0.  I tend to be a mindless eater, and just paying attention to what I eat has been a big help.  Frankly, a 24 hour virus in which I thoroughly emptied my stomach and then didn’t consume anything but ginger ale and one handful of pretzels for more than 24 hours didn’t hurt, either.

I am fully aware that (1) my scale is not as accurate as the digit after the decimal point would indicate and (2) under all circumstances my weight will fluctuate from day to day, anyway.  Those things don’t really matter, though, under this plan.  All that matters is establishing a long term downward trend.

In any case, most updates will appear in my Twitter feed (see sidebar) and not on the main site, but I wanted to say something about what I’m up to.