February done, onto March with some optimism

February is in the books. So how'd I do?

Weight loss goal: -6 lbs
Actual result: -3 lbs

So I had a really strong rally at the end (more on that later) to give a respectable result. Otherwise it was a tough month- again, more thoughts later. But, I'm not unhappy with the results overall, as things are moving in the right direction albeit slowly.

Total weight loss since start of blog (back in, holy crap, August): -8 lbs (actually, it could be -10 lbs, depending on when I counted my start weight...)

Measurement goal: "better"
Actual results: -2" both waist and chest. Nice!

Despite dropping a good amount of weight in January, I didn't lose any inches (just gained a little, which was bizarre). I made up for it this month, dropping several inches across the chest and waist.

Total measurement loss since August:

Chest: -4"
Waist: -4"

Comments on the month overall:

My average calorie intake for the month was just a bit over 2000 calories. Several months ago, I would have been impressed by this.

However, both anecdotal experience and research has led me to conclude that this was silly to think 2000 calories a day was a good, weight loss inducing number.

"My" real number is less than that. Much less.

As I have discussed before on this blog, the basal metabolic rate you can calculate on the internet uses a couple of different formulas, both guesswork. One had it at a ludicrously high amount, well over about 2300 calories. The other more conservative formula put it at closer to 2000.

Only when I tried getting my calories to 1500 per day did weight really begin to move.

However, as my daily calorie intake average would suggest, I struggled some to stay at this weight. This is mainly because of CARBOHYDRATES. Yep. Carbs and sugar.

I always "forget" this because I do not want to deal with the boredom of a ketogenic diet, but going keto has benefits that have always helped me, even if it is NOT a silver bullet/magic solution (it isn't: dieting still sucks and is still very very hard).

It's main benefit is satiety. Again: not a silver bullet. I still get hungry. But even if I am slightly less hungry slightly less often, that helps me win the "war with my mind" on a daily basis. The other benefit is despite irrational fears from dumb people, I have no doubt that it is a pretty darn healthy way of eating as well.

So near the end of the month I decided to do two things:

Cut ALL carbs and SUGAR. Total zero keto diet with the only carbs coming here and there from veggies like spinach and the like (so basically no more than 25 grams per day).

Daily calorie goal: 1200 cals.

1200 cals is the lowest I have ever set a calorie goal. Even last year, I would have thought this was entirely unnecessary for a man my size. However, as I've researched this, it seems clear that the daily amount of recommended intake is just wrong: it optimistically assumes a pretty efficient metabolism (which is true: people who don't struggle with weight can probably eat a bit more, period, and not gain it; whereas people who have had a big weight loss in their life end up needing to eat less to maintain that weight versus someone naturally at the same number on the scale).

This will be my goal going forward. I managed to east 1200, 1200, then 1400 calories at the end of this week. I allowed myself a bit more calories and carbs today (about 100 carbs, still "low carb" but no longer "ketogenic"), so I won't be surprised is a have a big *WATER WEIGHT* regain tomorrow (I won't be freaked out).

MARCH GOALS:

-8lbs loss (2 lbs per week)
Inches: "better"

With going keto and going as low as 1200 cals, I think I can do this. Don't get me wrong: it won't be easy, but the effects of ketosis and eating low carb cut down the appetite juuuuuuust enough that I can battle through the super tough spots. I don't always need to eat this way for the rest of my life (keto, that is); but for now, to get things moving, I'm happy to do it.