An open yogurt and a banana sit on my desk. A co-worker commends me for my great diet. I smile and thank her but feel like a phony. As she leaves my mind shifts to that big bowl of potato chips I ate the previous night. I adjusted my diet and started a regular workout routine at the YMCA a little more than five years ago. Yet when I stepped on the scale this week I found I’m about the same weight as when I started working out, which is about 20 pounds from where I’d like to be.
I don’t have rigorous routine, but I do burn approximately 500 to 700 calories five days a week. The problem is that I probably eat at least twice that much, including some pretty fattening late-night snacks. My doctor tells me not to worry. Keep exercising, she says. Imagine how much you would weigh if you didn’t work out, she adds. My heart is fine and my cholesterol is good. I was actually hoping I would have bad cholesterol because I thought it would scare me into cutting down on snacks. The doctor also tells me I’m not alone. Lots of men (and women) eat healthy all day, exercise and then pig out at night. She called it the frat boy syndrome.
Over the weekend, my wife said I looked like I had lost a few pounds. I went to the scale and noticed I was probably about five pounds away from my usual weight. The same day I also noticed I could fit comfortably into a sweatshirt that I had stopped wearing because it seemed tight. Maybe this is the week I finally start keeping the weight off. It’s only taken five years.
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2 comments:
I commend you for having a female doctor.
The important thing is that you are healthy and happy. I think that if you eat healthy and exercise, you are entitled to indulge in chips or in any other snack preference--provided that you use discretion and don't go overboard on the junk. If you constantly deny yourself food pleasures, you will be unhappy.
Maybe instead of having the chips or other indulgent snack at evening time, you could have the special snack during the day?
You are fortunate that you are able to get out regularly and exercise. I need to be more disciplined.
Good idea about snacking during the day or at least earlier in the evening. Late night snacking leads to flab and a less than peaceful good night sleep.
I ate a chocolate bar late at night last week. A really big one. First I dreamed that everyone in my life was plotting to kill me. I woke up and had trouble falling asleep.
When I did, I dreamed that I was back in my 20s and a whole bunch of beautiful girls were fighting over me.
I told my sons and they thought it was goofy that their father would dream about girls. My wife thinks I need a Psychologist.
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