How can I be more effective in my weight loss efforts? This is a question that’s been on my mind over the last several days. I’ve been jogging everyday, but my total weight loss for July was not impressive.
So, I’m thinking about the Pareto Principle and how it might help me get the most effectiveness out of my dieting. I also found this article on applying the 80/20 rule to your diet.
The basic ideas is this: some things make a much bigger difference than others, if you can focus on the most efficient tactics you can do more for less energy.
Bottom line for me: my diet is affecting my total weight loss much more than my jogging. This makes sense if you look at estimated caloric burn versus caloric intake.
Added to all this is the fact that I have many opportunities to overeat everyday, while I typically run only once. So, if I can get control of my eating I’ll be that much closer to loosing weight. Right?
I’m trying a version of the Slow Carb Diet this month, or at least for a few weeks. Thanks to Tim Ferriss for the diet idea.
- Rule #1: Avoid “white” carbohydrates
- Rule #2: Eat the same few meals over and over again
- Rule #3: Don’t drink calories
- Rule #4: Take one day off per week
Have you tried this weight loss plan? Will it kill my running energy?
This morning was discouraging. I checked my weight and found that I’ve been going backwards. So, I went out and ran and it occurred to me that for all the running I’ve been doing I have changed very little about what I’ve been eating.
The calorie equation is no mystery to me. When I consume more energy that my body uses, I gain weight. You might think this would affect what and how much I am eating. Unfortunately, I have not let up on the fast food, overeating or chocolate bars.
So today, I am realizing that weight loss is more about what I eat than how much I exercise. Here’s an example. Saturday morning I ate a Krispy Kreme chocolate iced cream filled donut. The calorie count is 350. So, in a matter of one minute I ate my way through three miles of running. What killed me was the second donut, now we’re talking 700 calories and all the fat grams you care to count. At my current pace, that was over 3 days worth of exercise lost in a moment’s time.
It’s more than a math problem. It comes down to self-control and making stupid choices. This morning was a time of self-confrontation. I know what it is going to take to lose weight. I have to change what I’m eating or all the running will be pointless.