After  many diets, books and fads, I had to face the simple truth. I am overweight because I consume more calories than I expend. Inversely, to lose weight, I must expend more calories than I intake.

Point. . . Blank. . . and the period.

Sure there are extenuating circumstances but nothing changes that fundamental truth. Slow metabolism? Expend more calories than you intake. Hate exercising? Expend more calories than you intake. Lost your dog? Expend more calories than you intake.

Well, you catch my drift.

I remember going to the doctor for my annual exam. He told me straight up that in order to lose the amount of weight that I needed to, I would have to exercise (walk specifically) 90 minutes 4 times a week. I remember thinking, how in the heck can i do that? I was barely able to walk 30 minutes at a time. I started slowly and gradually increased my stamina to 45 minutes. Good but half the mark.

At the size I was, walking 90 minutes at a speed of 3 mph would burn 797 calories. I started cardio dance class. One hour burned about 800 calories. So, cool. I can dance 4 times a week and be good. I was doing fantastic and then the stupid gym cancelled my class!!!!

One more excuse added and my workouts waned. I resolved dance class or no, I have to get it in. I started Get Fit with Fe, an accountability group. We complete challenges and post our daily workouts. I am a lot stronger now and can do a lot more than walk. I alternate between walking(trail or treadmill), Insanity, and Shaun T's dance dvds. I have also found some great free YouTube workouts. 

As for diet, it is all mathematics. Caloric intake 1500-1800 per day. Exercising adds numbers to my daily caloric intake. As long as I end the day in the positive, I am good. 

I achieve by lean protein, fruits and veggies. I keep food natural and preservative-free and cook my own meals. No junk food. Afterall, I am not a garbage dump.

How am I doing? Today, I put on capris straight from the dryer that I would have to hold my breath to fasten and they are literally falling off. I would say that that's fantastic mathematics.

 

This is an excerpt from Love Rain Down by Jill Scott and Mos Def. It is more accurately an excerpt from Mos Def's verse on the song:

 

"I said, “You are the beautiful, distress of mathematics.”
I said, “For you, I would peel open the clouds like new fruit.”
And give you lightning and thunder as dowry
I would make the sky shed all of its stars like rain
And I would clasp the constellations across your waist
And I would make the heavens your cape
And they would be please to cover you
They would be pleased to cover you
May I please cover you, please."

 

This verse makes me feel as pretty and good as eating right and exercise does. How is your journey coming along?