February 17th, 2015 Key To Progress: Consistency

February 17th, 2015 Key To Progress: Consistency

I often write about how imperfect of a journey I lead. If you're a regular reader here, you've read about how I don't get enough sleep, I eat out too much, I often eat too late in the day, I don't push myself hard enough in the exercise department and my time management skills leave a lot to be desired. And I don't write about any of that in a negative way.

I'm simply trying to illustrate how the success we enjoy isn't dependent on perfection. It's dependent on consistency. Besides, perfection is relative to the individual. One persons perfect is another's perceived bad day. Consistency is key to progress. I proudly proclaim I'm consistently imperfect and for me, that's perfect. I woke up today, logged into MyFitnessPal and realized it was Day 300 of this turnaround adventure.

Initial weight loss: -275 pounds. Relapse/regain: +164 pounds. Weight loss since turnaround started: -129 pounds. This is from where the 240 pounds lost number comes.

300 days in a row of logging everything in MFP. I'm super proud of this. I'm just as proud of 300 days straight of tweeting every bite, everyday--with the photo, description, various measurements and calorie counts. When someone asks me the common question: "What did you eat to lose all that weight?" I can give them way more than they were expecting. Because it's all there. Everything, everyday. And to think I was so reluctant at first to commit to the Twitter feed--it was extreme--but you know what? It's been a big blessing to me in so many ways. An extreme blessing, if you will.

When I drive by the walking trail on my way to and from work everyday, I can't help but be reminded: This is where it all started September 15th, 2008. I claimed my piece of the old trail today.

The backhoe operator hadn't heard from the person in charge of the project (the one I spoke with about this deal), so he hadn't a clue as to the why behind my strange request for a small chunk. I didn't have time to explain it to him. I grabbed my piece of it and quickly moved on. Now, I'll clean it and proudly display it in my apartment. It wouldn't mean anything to anyone else but me, and to me--it's something special. 

I can imagine the backhoe operator getting home and his significant other asking, "How was your day?" And he replies. "I was ripping up the old walking trail on 5th street, when this vehicle came rolling up with a guy asking if he could have a chunk of the trail. The crazy fella took pictures of it, too. It was a strange deal. I can't figure out for the life of me why he would want an old chunk of asphalt."

It was a great food and exercise day. I did the weights followed by elliptical at the Y. One of my goals every Tuesday is to get my workout finished before my Tuesday night weight loss support group conference call. I met that goal successfully. I finished my 300th consecutive day of this turnaround by finishing with exactly 1,700 calories. It took some math and some precise measuring of my #lastfoodofday, but I did it. Not that I'm obsessive about being exact--I'm not. I was just having fun with the numbers.

That reminds me, tomorrow is weigh day! I'll head into the doctors office mid-morning for my tri-weekly weigh in and we'll see what the scale has to say. No matter what it says, I'm confident I'm doing the right things for me.

My Tweets Today:

Good morning! Sugar free hazelnut creamer in my dark roast. Love it. 30 calories X 2 cups= 60 cal. pic.twitter.com/DLSkIEviUG
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) February 17, 2015

Three whole egg avocado omelet with 93g mashed avocado seasoned w/salt and pepper. Golden delicious apple. 439 cal. pic.twitter.com/lKs2OR72Fh
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) February 17, 2015

Bean & pepper jack tostadas w-1/2 serving blue chips. Salsa mixed w-1 tblspn light sr cream. 2 cups water. 425 cal. pic.twitter.com/80x9kqIldl
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) February 17, 2015

Got my piece of the old walking trail. The trail where I started my weight loss journey is being replaced. #happy pic.twitter.com/GZishstnBw
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) February 17, 2015

Here we go. Tuesday workout: Weights and cardio. 2 cups water. #wateraccountability pic.twitter.com/BpO0YKH4cX
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) February 17, 2015

Weights done. Elliptical ride next. :) pic.twitter.com/SNAczuREkr
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) February 17, 2015

30 min. Level 15. Using arms and legs, pushing it... Wow. Still whips me well. #sweatydude pic.twitter.com/fH1qDepEn8
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) February 17, 2015

Post workout bottle gulped. This is post-workout refill. 2 cups. #watertracking #accountabilityiskey #whatworks4me pic.twitter.com/PK2aWE4Jgf
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) February 17, 2015

Several things. Please, no long lines at checkout! :) pic.twitter.com/b2HcB6ViKl
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) February 18, 2015

3 chicken (6oz) tacos w/lettuce, onion, tomato, salsa, light sr crm & jack cheese. Cara Cara orange. 622 cal. pic.twitter.com/27QLEomppf
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) February 18, 2015

Yellow apple with a precisely measured 11 grams of natural peanut butter. That's .7 tblspns. #lastfoodofday 154 cal. pic.twitter.com/Pgz59AUNSm
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) February 18, 2015

Just realized I needed this to make my water goal today. Cups 7 & 8. #wateraccountability pic.twitter.com/sWiSN6JbJe
— Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) February 18, 2015

Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean