Spoiler: Weight Loss = (Diet x Exercise) / Time
*yawn
In 2021, I weighed nearly 275 lbs. While the world was fighting off a global pandemic, I was battling stress, career dissatisfaction, digestive problems, alongside my weight gain. By the second half of 2023, I had lost around 70 lbs. My dog weighs close to 70 lbs. That’s nuts!
If you’re wondering
How I gained the weight
In 2020, I had a high-stress job that required a lot of desk time. The COVID-19 pandemic hit and stress went higher while moving around in the world became less. I applaud those that buckled down and used that time to beef up their home gym and get swole, but that was never us. So while I have consistently carried 10-20 pounds over my “fighting weight”, this was the time of exponential weight gain.
What changed
At the end of 2021, I started my consulting business, Level 2 Consulting. I also got a job at an Amazon Fulfillment Center to supplement my income and maintain benefits. At this point, I had also been going back and forth with doctors trying to get to the bottom of digestive problems that have been plaguing me for years.
About my diet
Early in 2021 my coworkers and I participated in a reading group. The book was The 12 Week Year and one of my goals required me to stop drinking alcohol and eating fast food. Then, later in 2022, and after many tests, procedures, my doctor pointed out that I have a slight gluten sensitivity. He suggested I may see some benefits from cutting down or eliminating gluten from my diet. He also said a Mediterranean style diet may help alleviate some of my symptoms as well, and may help get my weight under control.
About exercise
While Level 2 Consulting is knowledge-based work (i.e. sedentary), I get to decide where and when to work. This meant I wasn’t chained to a desk the way I had been. But the work I did at Amazon was 10+ hours/day of nearly constant physical work. This work resulted in an average of 15,000 steps per day with some days generating 30,000 steps. I also began finding time within my work days to do a few sets of push ups.
How things are going today
Since reading The 12 Week Year, and as of this writing, I have had exactly one brandy old-fashioned and very minimal fast food, gluten, etc. I also stay active by continuing my work at Amazon and coaching youth football. I used to enjoy running and my plan has been to get back into that but I haven’t in any serious way yet. What I do know is I feel pretty damn good and my digestive issues seem to have gotten better, at least for now.