Beau Jackson

So if you scroll back through the last few posts, you’ll see I started my weight loss plan at 269.5 pounds.  I made it to goal one (265) and almost to goal two (260).  I’ve weighed in at 260.5 two days in a row now.  I’ve been that low a couple of other times and “bounced” back up a few pounds.

This is what I call the “plateau”.  It means there’s a weight mark that I just can’t seem to break past.  Theoretically, what this means is that my metabolism has now adjusted to the reduction in calories.  The only way to get past the plateau is to a) eat even less (which would be unhealthy and non-sustainable) or b) EXERCISE!

Today I officially began my exercise regime to go along with my reduced calorie intake.  For me, exercise = walking.  I took a 15 minute walk during lunch today – only 76 degrees out, which is fantastic for August in Missouri.  I will take another 10 to 15 minute walk this evening.

I have read that walking at a reasonable pace (3 mph or so) can burn 5 to 10 calories per minute.  At my weight, it’s near the 10 calorie mark, so 15 minutes of walking burns 150 calories.  The way I see this is that I just walked off all the calories I consumed in my morning snack.

Eventually (2 to 4 weeks from now) I’ll plateau again – and it means the same thing.  My metabolism will have adjusted to the new amount of activity and calories.  At that point, I’ll have to bump my exercise up a little – another 10 minutes of walking per day.

It all seems to work pretty well.  I’m never really starving myself – I’m eating about 1500-1700 calories per day.  Eating at regular intervals, which means breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner helps keep me from getting the munchies.  It also helps keep your metabolism stable.  Exercising daily – even just walking – also helps boost the metabolism and makes me feel better about myself too.

Hopefully tomorrow will bring me under 260 – through the plateau and on to my next five pound goal!