My mother apparently read a recent blog post here, because she asked me last night “Are you sure you’ve gained weight?” I wasn’t sure what she meant at first. Yes, my last weigh-in was higher than the one where I’d gotten down to 450, by about 7 pounds, I think, but that’s not much of a change. As long as I don’t put on more than ten pounds from my lowest recent reading, I’m not going to sweat it. Anyway, her point was that it didn’t look like I’d put on 7 pounds, it looked more like I was still losing weight.

I pointed out that it’s very likely that as I’m burning fat, I’m also building muscle, which weighs more than fat (Dr. Eeks actually put up a nice visual in which a “to scale” model of a 5 pound lump of fat was displayed next to a likewise to scale model of 5 pounds of muscle. The fat is nearly twice the size of the muscle. That means that if I burn fat and build muscle, and the quantities of both are equal (let’s say 10 pounds)  the weight won’t change, but as I continue to do so, my size will still change. That’s why, although the scale is the first thing people turn to when trying to lose weight, the numbers aren’t all that important.

I’ve known people that lost weight, but plateaued at some point, got frustrated and quit working out, on top of going back to eating whatever they damn well pleased. For starters – and this will most likely offend some – that’s a good sign that the person wasn’t really doing what they needed to do in the first place. Particularly I’m talking about the food. I basically eat whatever I damn well please (though I need to get better at logging it), but have strove toward a lifestyle change in my diet. I’ve changed what I enjoy. I’ve experimented with healthier foods and have found new things that I like – things which, frankly, are just as satisfying (and in many cases more so) than the crap I used to eat on a normal basis. In fact, even when it’s only “just as satisfying”, it’s still a little more, because I don’t have to feel guilty about what I’m eating.

For example, “what I damn well please” means a lot of protein, lots of raw celery and carrots (at least two of each a day, usually more like 4 or 6 of each a day – they’re kind of a staple of my diet now), frequent fruits, healthy dairy (low-fat, but not fat-free, and good dairy sources, like cottage cheese and Fage’s Greek yogurt) and certain grains. That’s something called a balanced diet, folks, and I didn’t get there overnight. It takes time and determination. I’ll even freely admit that I had a head start when I began working with Eeks this summer, because I’ve been slowly working at changing my diet for years now. I’ve mentioned some of that before, I’m sure – getting myself off of regular soda, to taking myself almost completely off of diet soda as well, opting for seltzer water instead, are just a few very effective examples.

I mentioned the grains category last, partly because that has seen some evolution in my life recently. I’ve discovered a love for wheatberries. Particularly, the raw kind. I don’t even bother soaking them. I’ve asked Eeks if there’s anything I should be concerned about and so far, looks good. Lord, though, they do make you gassy! I’ve also heard they can bind you up in the bowels department… I’ll go so far as to say that not only is has that not been the case with me, but fairly opposite. I’m pleased with the results in that category. After doing a little research, that little tidbit, along with one which indicates that it could cause some kind of dental issue, I’m not finding anything wrong with eating dry, raw wheatberries. So far, the only people that have suggested there are problems with such a practice are those that don’t engage in it, the ones that do swear by it! I’m even going to try my hand at sprouting.

Oh, did I forget something? Well, I had put what my Mom had said out of my mind, until this morning, in the middle of my warmup… on an impulse, I decided to run upstairs and check my weight. Looks like Mom was right as usual – 447! Yes, I know, the way I count my weight, that isn’t much – just a drop of three pounds from my last lowest weigh-in. Still, it’s nice when you think you weigh one number to find out you’re ten pounds lighter than that.

Well, I have a few chores to get to before tonight’s debauchery. There will be lots of liquid carbs to burn off tomorrow, but that’s just fine – I’ll be spending the night at a friend’s house, one who has a lot of property – plenty of room to move around! Erin go bragh!