Now Weight A Minute...

[derechodragon]

About three months ago, I weighed in for a workplace-sponsored weight loss contest, and to cut right to the chase, the results were downright alarming.  I've pretty much always had a bit of a paunch, but I've noticed it growing bigger and bigger over recent years.  I'd put a lot of thought into what I should be doing about it, but never quite felt

Comments

[drleo]

Awesome! Keep up the good work.

After all, it's all about being able to do that Derecho costume down the road, right?

[derechodragon]

That is part of the motivation, it's true. Though it's not so much a question of fitting into the clothes, but rather trying to not look like a pear-shaped dragon.

[kakoukorakos]

Congrats!

The best aspect is, since it's not some sort of over-the-top crash routine, but rather a few smaller lifestyle changes, your approach is sustainable.

On the subject of sedentary jobs, there have been a lot of stories & studies published recently on how bad they are in terms of the dramatic increases in heart disease. NPR has a pretty good summary in this story:

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/25/135575490/sitting-all-day-worse-for-you-than-you-might-think

That got me thinking about my job, too, so I make more of an effort to walk around and visit my end users rather than fixing their tech issues remotely (even if the problems are simple and I can just send an email), and I take the stairs rather than elevators. I mean, who knew having a job sitting in a chair could be arguably more hazardous to your health than constantly breathing lung-fulls of asbestos? :P

[derechodragon]

It makes perfect sense, really. Your body is like anything else -- use it or lose it!

[chefmongoose]

*uses your body?*

[chefmongoose]

Glad to hear that the walking-with-iPod works well for you! I really ought to do that more myself, but I am a total temperature wimp. And I'm glad some exerciseing has been goin' on.

Good food habits are what works for me. I've been backsliding just enough on mine to keep plateaued; it's time for me to correct that. (I have the unfortunate complication of ahousemate who only eats veggies when I make them. Seriously. otherwise, it's mac and cheese and ham sandwiches; and so I'm tryign to make him balanced healthy meals.. which means I'm making more food than I would for just myself, usually in bigger portions. :P )

For me, I've just joined a gym this past week. The combination of "not wanting to waste the money I'm spending" plus getting me out of my house should hopefully work. I know that for -me-, I won;t exercise at home.. but breakign my environment will do.

Glad to hear you're starting to get healthier, indeed. We'll see if you can pass me. ;)

[derechodragon]

I have the benefit of a largely tree-shaded neighborhood, so even on the hottest days if I waited until just before sunset it would be almost tolerable. A couple of times I tried walking in the morning, but under strong sunlight if felt even worse although the temperature was lower.

Much the same, I know myself well enough that that sort of motivation to go to the gym *won't* work on me. I'd rather piss the money away and come up with excuses not to go. But the street is right across the lawn, I'm never more than four blocks from home on the route I take (so I can cease early if I want/need to), and I have plenty of time to spare most days.

[chefmongoose]

Good then! It's all about what works for you.

Hopefully by next Anthrocon (Or Furfright, come to furfright!) I'll see a more svelte dragon, whose cloak covers him up yet more. :D