gcpeart's Journal, 04 September 2007

Great job setting goals! I went to a BMI calculator online and got depressed, so you have inspired my long range goal of a new BMI number by a certain date. Hang in there! 

It depends on your weight loss goals, for me my weight loss (at least initially) was about health (these days I can't help but get a little bit vain when everyone is telling me how good I look.) BMI is a good health indicator, at least statistically, I have other indicators like 'can I run for the bus,' and 'how far can I ride,' but BMI remains the one my Doc threatens me with and the one that is most tangible. When I look at the chart and can see if you are in obesity class III (which I was) it screams at me how much risk I'm in. I believe the number was like 200% high risk of heart attack/stroke/obesity related premature death. It took a long time for that to sink in, and I think at first I ate to make it less scary, but when I started to think about it I'd rather live and live well. It wasn't enough that I wanted to do it for myself, because I also wanted to eat all the food for myself, we were really at a n impasse. When I looked at my wife, and my nephew, and thought about the children I may one day have, I decided that while I can eat for me, I can live for them. Thats my motivation, thats what keeps me going. The least popular, and most effective diet in the world is the "eat less(/smarter) and exercise more for the rest of your life diet" and that is more or less what weight watchers is, and how I'm going to do what I need to do.