Announcement Post – Day 1 – Previous Post
All I want to do is this ride on a day like today. Kits Beach — Spanish Banks. Visit and click.
Without being any more unpleasant that I already am, I thought these two audio clips would encapsulate my feelings toward the outcome of this 15 week diet-fitness extravaganza.
From A Fish Called Wanda
From Black Adder
So … why the negative response?
I’ll let you decide. Brace yourself for facts and figures.
Let’s start with how much work I did over the 92 days.
But you’re wanting to know “the number”.
10.7 pounds.
I know, right?
Here’s the chart. The figures are pounds and inches. The % Body Fat is courtesy of the gym’s scale that somehow measures this through bare feet on the metal plate of the scale.
For you graph people, this is what it looks like.
How bad were people’s guesses? Bad.
Cathy of Edmonton wins the chocolate.
Honestly that was a lot of work for limited effort. I’m keen to have people’s interpretation. The % Body Fat drop explains my droopy pants but the real question is “Where do I need to be?” According to insane ideal weight charts I’m supposed to be 169 to 189 pounds. Uh huh.
I spoke with Victoria the Trainer and we set a target of 250 pounds, assuming I keep at the gym the way I am.
So 38 pounds to go. There will be work over the summer and I’m going to ponder Mutant Diet Deux for September. Maybe I’ll only eat French things.
I was going to put up before and after pictures, but when they are sized down to this screen, the difference is, sadly, not good enough for publication and, frankly, I’ve put myself out there enough. However, this one I’ll share.
Have a great summer.
You have a few things going on here:
1) Lots of exercise, maybe enough that you are building serious muscle. Muscle is much denser then fat, hence you won’t notice a change in weight. You have lost a lot of body fat, which has a multitude of benefits, and likely proves my point.
2) My weight loss ran at about 2 pounds a month, and it took me two years to lose 50 pounds. You’re are not far off this mark. Don’t get pissed off; your weight loss is sustainable and possibly permanent along with the lifestyle changes you have made.
3) You have recorded your blood pressure and heart rate; both have fallen towards very reasonable numbers. This will greatly add to your longevity. Many people go through an extremely serious health crisis before they take those numbers seriously. You have likely dodged the bullet big time. You may be able to play a decent game of volleyball on Kitsilano beach at the age of 85!
Now I have to go run.
Concentrate on the positives. Mainly, you did not invest money in any ridiculous diet plan that promised you’d be insta-thin at the end of 90 days. You have been sensible and realistic throughout, because, you are a realistic and sensible man. What I’m sure you realized (and might be frustrated by), is that this is for life, not just 90 days. Celebrate the pounds lost. Celebrate the good habits you have adopted. Most importantly, and I know this will be hard, is celebrate the wonderful Robert Ford that you are. People love you, exactly the way you are. Do the exercise because you like it. Eat the way you have because you like it. Forgive yourself and allow yourself to slip. Don’t call yourself names. Self-deprecating humor is a defense, and completely unnecessary. I’ve always seen you as a man of stature, who is confident, and rocks a suit and work out clothing. Please shake off the frustration and keep at it. Strive for feeling good. Forget the numbers.
I think in this case the numbers lied! There is definitely a change between the before and after pictures. You are on a the right path, keep up the good work and not worry about keeping to the crazy pace of the last few months – live a little to a healthy and long life!
Robert, First of all, thank you for putting all of this out there. Taking on a challenge like this is a brave undertaking, but to go public with it for all to see is truly vulnerable and courageous. While I realize that the numbers are not as dramatic as you had hoped for, I think they carry a more powerful message than you give them credit for. What you have posted are long-term, sustainable numbers, and tell a more realistic story about what a change in lifestyle really looks like – a commitment. Dropping your body fat content like that is a meaningful change, and I think you look markedly different in those pics. The big factor is that you have made an investment in your own health that will have really positive impacts on both you and your family (starting with role modelling a commitment to health and hard work), and you should be immensely proud. Over time, you will find the things that you enjoy most, and that have the biggest impact. My own advice is to ensure that you find enjoyment and success in what you are doing – it is too hard otherwise. Well done Robert, what you have done is inspirational.