The Quantified Self

I will not go into what has happened since the last time I posted, but suffice to say it involves a lot of chocolate, a lot of wine and copious amounts of lying (a story for another post).

One thing that has been positive, is that I’ve really got into using a Fitbit device over the past 10 days, which tracks every bit of activity. Combined with My Fitness Pal, you get an accurate picture of calories in, vs calories out.

Looking at the stats from the previous week, one thing is very clear: so many of my calories are coming from booze, my weight loss goals will be so much easier if I cut it out.

Aside from the psychological issues with booze, which again is another post, it’s the main thing that made me put on weight, and cutting it out is the main thing that will help me lose it.

So, I’ve set myself an ambitious target. For the next 7 weeks, I will aim to create a deficit of 7,000 calories per week. About 3000 of these will come from fasting, the other 4,000 a combo of exercise and cutting back.

Does it sound doable? I think it does, if I cut out the rubbish that has crept in over the past few months, the booze, the binging that comes with it…

I’m having huge resentment over the fact I need to lose weight, but I really do, and it’s not just about how I look, it’s about regaining some control. What irony, that I had an eating disorder that centred around perfection and control and I’ve gone to the other extreme of acute imperfection and lack of control.

I’m going to try and keep posting here, to keep myself motivated, to battle the booze cravings and to keep on an even keel.

If, by the first if April, I can get to the lower ends of 9st, that would be just brilliant. I’d fit my clothes properly again, be back to a weight that I know suits me but isn’t too thin, and most importantly, it would show me that I can achieve goals when I put my mind to it. I can’t remember the last time I set myself a challenge and stuck to it. That’s incredibly sad, because I’m usually one of the most driven people I know. My determination switch has been flipped off, and I need to damn well flip it back on again.

Here we go…