Larry at age 23

It’s January 1, 2009 and, like millions of people, I’m coming to grips with the fact that my investment portfolio is getting thinner and I’m getting fatter. Neither my finances nor my waistline are in critical shape but both need a bit of attention.

Actually I think there is a connection between the two. For a variety of reasons – including the economic meltdown –  2008 was a stressful year and when I’m under stress, I tend to eat too much and exercise too little.

This is not the first time I’ve come to this realization. I was chubby as a child and obese as a young man. When I was 24 I got on the scale and realized I was 80 pounds overweight. I lost that 80 pounds and, over the next three and a half decades see-sawed between 155 and 200 pounds several times. The last time I did a big weight loss program was in 2001 when I went from 200 to 150, part of it under the supervision of a dietitian.

I actually don’t know how much I weigh right now — I haven’t been on the scale in weeks and I didn’t want to start the year out with bad news, but I’m guessing it’s about 180 pounds. I’d be happy to be 165 and even happier if I weighed 160. So, this is not an insurmountable goal.

While there’s nothing new about my starting a diet and increasing my exercise routine, this is the first time I’ve joined the crowd by starting on January 1st.

One of the things that complicate my start date is that in four days I fly to Las Vegas where I’ll spend 5 days at the Consumer Electronics Show. This is never a good time or place to watch one’s weight. In addition to the stress of eating on the run, there are nightly parties where wine, beer and exotic drinks flow and plenty of food is served. The finger food one picks up at parties can be especially devastating because it’s easy to lose control of how much you’re eating as you graze from table to another.

The other thing about starting a weight loss plan is that it seems overwhelming. Even 15 to 20 pounds is a long-term goal. Experts say it’s best to lose no more than one or two pounds a week and after an initial weight loss you typically hit a plateau so, on average, it’s likely I’ll lose less than a pound a week. Also, as one ages, weight loss gets harder so I know I’m looking at least three to six months before all the weight is off and of course that’s only if I stick to the program. I have to admit, I’ve been here before and have fallen off the wagon before.

So, here’s a plan. One thing I do know about adapting to a healthy eating and exercise routine is that you feel the results long before you see them in the mirror. Even after only one day of eating lightly, you wake up in the morning feeling less full than you did the day before. After three days, you feel considerably better and you are likely to have lost two or three pounds of “water weight.” I realize that the initial weight loss is not from burning off three or so pounds of fat and I also realize that it can come back as quickly as you lost it, but it feels good and if you let yourself enjoy that feeling it can be a motivating factor. The key is to take in how you feel when you get up those first few mornings and realize that if you stick with the plan you’re going to feel even better as time goes on.

Personally, I do like to step on the scale daily when I’m losing weight but I also know not to take daily variations too seriously. Your weight can change just based on water retention and if you do fluctuate by a pound or more, it’s clear that it is not body fat that’s making the difference (a pound of body fat = 3,500 calories and it’s not likely that you would add or detract nearly that many calories a day from the number of calories you need to stay at your current weight).

OK, enough writing. It’s a gray day in Silicon Valley but it’s not raining so I’m going to go for a hike. Nothing strenuous, just enough to get the year started in a positive way.

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