Main Entry: ¹di·et

1 a : food and drink regularly provided or consumed b : habitual nourishment c : the kind and amount of food prescribed for a person or animal for a special reason d : a regimen of eating and drinking sparingly so as to reduce one’s weight <going on a diet>
2 : something provided or experienced repeatedly <a diet of Broadway shows and nightclubs — Frederick Wyatt>

I used to say that I don’t diet. Really? How could that have been? I didn’t regularly eat food and drink? Well, if that’s the case, where did the extra 20 pounds come from?

After further review, (i.e. the mirror) I determined that I have a diet – for better or worse – a diet none the less it was. A diet full of the wrong choices at the wrong times. Looking at statistics of the general population, I fear I’m not alone! Saying I don’t diet is just an illusion – a set of mental smoke and mirrors to make myself believe that what I eat doesn’t matter. Well, the extra 20 pounds I discovered around my waist is a clear indication what I eat matters.

It seems popular culture dictates that a diet is a bad thing, when in fact a diet should be a very good thing! I’m finding with simpleweight, a diet is exactly that – a GOOD thing.

For me my diet is changing, and I hope you’ll change yours with me. I’m learning which foods are better for me, and I am trying to make better choices about what I eat. I’ve been tracking my weight, exercise and foods I’ve eaten… and you know what… good things are happening. And really, it’s not that hard. I’ve lost 14 pounds to date – And I feel great! Why don’t you join me. Whether you diet or not, you have a diet – now make it a good one!

I wanted to find out. So, my May 2007 goal was just to measure my Food in vs. Food out. I was not too worried about how much I ate or how much I exercised. I just wanted to measure, because it is very difficult to change what you do not measure.

Well, May 19, 2007, I ate 3,744 calories, and my trend for May ended at 2,800 calories a day. No wonder I have gained weight. Fortunately, due to my participation at zen-habits.com May 2007 Daily Exercise Challenge , I also exercised 20 out of 31 days for an average Food out of about 200 calories a day. When I add 200 calories to my Resting Metabolic Rate of 1,800 calories, my Food out trend for May is 2,000 calories burned each day.

What did I learn from my May 2007 Goal?

When I am not watching my diet, I am a typical American and really do eat 3,790 calories a day. I don’t have an internal food clock. I have to track my food in and food out in order for me to lose and maintain my optimal weight of 160 lbs +/- 5lbs. I also learned that I am not a fan of being a calorie counter, but simpleweight made it easy.

Did I lose weight even though Food in (2,800 calories) > Food Out (2,000 calories)?

You bet I did.

May 1, my trend weight was 189.9 lbs. May 31, my trend weight was 186.5.

In one month, I lost 3.4 lbs, and all I did was track my weight, Food In, and Food out?

One question, I asked myself is why did I lose weight even though Food in 2,800 > Food Out 2,000? I have to imagine just the action of committing to tracking my weight, exercise, and diet every day caused me to be mindful of my weight loss goals. Consequently, I ate less than the 3,790 calories I normally ate in the past. In fact, if you look at my Food In Chart above, many times, I ate closer to 2,000 calories with a few spikes here and there. Imagine what I could do if I really try.

How should I really try?

Stay tuned for the actual details, but if you want the teaser. The Slow Weigh to weight loss is to make small methodical changes to your diet and exercise while using Simpleweight.com to measure your Food in & Food out. The great thing about Simpleweight.com is you can use whatever weight management plan or diet plan you want as long as you are tracking your weight, exercise, and diet regularly.

Do you eat 3,790 calories a day?

Find out by tracking your diet, or Food In, at Simpleweight.com.