Battle of the Bulge, Part III

During the Cold War, the DEW Line (Distant Early Warning Line) was set-up at stations throughout the north to detect incoming Soviet bombers, and provide advance warning of any sea or land invasion.  In terms of my personal battle with the bulge I have several early warning systems: the tightness of my shirt collars or the snugness of my pants.  For the last number of months, both of those systems have been on high alert as I've slowly, incrementally, insistently been putting on weight.  And while I saw the flashing yellow warning signs, I chose to ignore them.

I'm not sure what was the tipping point, but while in Calgary at meetings this week I reached it.  I flipped to the back page of my journal and made a table comprising six weeks.

My intention/aspiration is to eat healthy and moderately, stay away from alcohol and drink lots of water for 42 days.  Concurrent with better eating, I've started to do push-ups again, my exercise of choice from back in my 20's.  I started at 15 on Day 1 and will add one additional push-up each day as I go along.  So, theoretically, I will be doing 57 push-ups in one fell swoop when this is over.

Partly out of fear, and partly out of a desire to do something different, I have not stepped on the weight scale to begin this journey.  On the one hand, I don't want this to be about a number.  On the other hand, I want to focus on how I feel and fit, rather than how much I weigh.

My DEW Plan

D - Drink lots of water. Do not drink alcohol. This one is easy, and arguably, has the biggest impact.

E - Eat moderate servings. Keeps sugars and carbs to a minimum.  Focus on fresh vegetables and salads.

W - What I feel is more important than what I weigh.

I already feel better, less full, more comfortable, and it's only been a few days.

During the first Battle of the Bulge, at the beginning of this blogging adventure, I used a combination of exercise and healthy eating to lose 10 - 15 pounds.  During the second battle I invested in the Ideal Protein program and over 6 weeks lost 25 - 30 pounds.  I think more than anything, this time around I want to prove to myself that being diligent and mindful can get me back to the shape that allows my shirts and pants to fit less strained than they are now.  Whether or not I lose pounds in the process is a moot point, because I haven't taken a starting measure.

It is Friday, April 25th, and only 40 days to go.