I Best my COLLEGE Weight

This first day of September in the year of our lord 2011, marks the conclusion of my weight loss challenge.  This is a good day.  After 81 days of grueling work and dedication, I am proud to announce that I've lost 25.2 pounds!

This challenge was conceived over dinner on June 12 of this summer.  Wifey and I were revelling in the most exotic dinner of our lives (sea erchant, bone marrow, and the like), when she wagered that she could get me below 200 lbs by September 1st, 2011.  Being the fervent supporter of Wifey that I am, I eagerly accepted the challenge as I gulped my last bite of freedom (ox tail, if you must know).

Over the next 2.5 months, we drastically reduced the amount of carbohydrates, soda, red meat, cheese, and salt that I was eating.  In total, I approximate that I reduced my caloric intake to 1700-1800 calories per day.  Most of the weight loss came from diet alone.  I began adding exercise during the second half of the challenge.  In any given week, I would run 5-6 miles 3-4 times per week.

Every meal and exercise were tracked in our Food Log. Then, each and everyday, I stepped on the scale for the daily progress report.  Here's what my weight chart looks like.  You might notice that I started at 221.4 lbs and finished at 196.2 lbs.  That's total weight loss of over 25 lbs!

Can you spot the weekends?  ...the biggest peak was Lake Placid.  ...another doozy was the Man U - Barca game.

For some added perspective:

• My heaviest weight ever was 230 lbs
• In college, I was listed at 190 lbs but I'm pretty sure I never got below 200 lbs
• At my wedding, I weighed 213 lbs

When I finally rolled-back into the lower century, Wifey and I started getting really excited.  It was fun to see the numbers on the scale get lower and lower.

It really helped to have a partner in this crime.  One of my stipulations was that Wifey couldn't ask any more of me than she asked herself.  To that end, she also reduced her calories, exercised, and ultimately lost over 12 lbs!  If I ever eat one more spoonful of Greek Yogurt, it will be too soon.  Our normal diet included:

• Breakfast: scrambled eggs, yogurt, blueberries, and a banana
• Morning Snack: two apples
• Lunch: baked turkey (sliced), broccoli and other assorted veggies
• Dinner: poultry, pork, or fish with steam veggies

Once the exercise portion kicked in, I also started eating mixed nuts in the afternoon.  Fortunately, I didn't need to stick to this regimen seven days a week.  On the weekends, Wifey would loosen the requirements and allow for Sunday Slices in the Garden and/or a home cooked steak dinner.  Did I mention how much I like Beacon Hill Chocolates?

I've been looking forward to this day for quite some time.  And now that I'm free from the challenge, I'm tempted to go bonkers this weekend.  Can I get a Big Mac!?