Reflections on Reaching My Goals

Sunday was a monumental day in terms of a fitness goal I had set for myself. Those who follow my blog know that 7 weeks ago I joined a weight-loss program (Noom) in order to take off the weight I had put on during the pandemic; I had tried unsuccessfully to do that on my own for about 2 months.

Sunday, I met my overall goal–losing 15 pounds in 7 weeks; not only did the pandemic weight come off, but it also brought me to the middle range of the ideal weight for an adult male 5’10” tall. I have wanted to get to this spot for several years and am finally there! I love the way I feel; I am way less exhausted after my workouts and I feel like I have more energy. I love the way I look; my clothes fit better, I can see my obliques and abs, and I had to get a new belt to hold up my pants! Two things I am thrilled about: eliminating the visceral fat around my waist (which is an indicator of better health) and reaching a goal that I worked hard to accomplish.

What was different this time? Two things.

1. In the past I just tried to watch what I ate and monitor physical activity but not in a “casual” way. Several times, I used My Fitness Pal to track those, but I was never really consistent about it, nor did I have a sense of what my calorie intake should be in order to achieve success. Additionally, although I may have lowered my calorie count, I was not necessarily eating the right kinds of foods–too much processed stuff and not enough greens and whole grains. This time around I used Noom. It is not inexpensive, but I know that if I put my resources into something I am not going to let it go to waste; who wants to spend money on something and then simply let it go down the tubes? The fact that I was invested financially meant that I was invested emotionally and physically. Noom also has coaches, a kind of support group (that I only joined when I was almost at my goal), as well as regular educational tidbits on the app that are informative and motivating. Bottom line: to get results, get invested.
2. I had a partner supporting me. My wife (who is close to her goal as well) is doing Noom as well. We both support each other and hold each other accountable. We know that one of us slips, the other one will slip as well…and when one shows discipline the other one will too! I honestly think this was a more important factor than the first point above. I do not know how folks lose weight on their own when others around them are eating a less healthy diet with larger portions. The beginning was hard as we both adjusted to a greatly reduced calorie counts, but then we put our heads together and found recipes and foods that would fill us up with as little a dent in the calorie budget as possible. It became like a kind of game and we were a team! This journey has even brought us closer together!

What is next? Obviously, I must now maintain the progress that I have made. Noom has adjusted already now that I am not in the “weight loss mode;” my calorie budget has increased a little. It is now up to me, though, to stick with the program–even with the upcoming Passover holiday–tracking the food I eat and physical activity. I suppose a time will come when I won’t need to do all the tracking, when I am so used to how and how much to eat that it will no longer be necessary. That is still in the future.

For now, I celebrate reaching a goal…and get ready to set my next one!