If I was going to achieve my goal of losing 10kgs, I had to strategize exactly how I intended to do it.
The first thing I decided was that I was going to stick very strictly to a time-restricted eating schedule. I only permitted myself to eat within an eight-hour period, between 12:00pm and 8:00pm, and then fast for the next 16 hours.
I also decided that every morning I would do a small exercise program that my brother suggested, which included 30 push-ups, 30 sit-ups and 30 squats, followed by a long 7km walk. This was easy to manage and maintain because at the time, New South Wales was under extensive lockdowns due to COVID-19. I had nothing but free time to focus exclusively on this new venture, as my part time work was affected by the lockdowns.
Next, I cut out all unnecessary treats that would impede my weight loss objective, such as sweets, fast food, sugary drinks, and other unhealthy products.
And finally, I decided I would weigh myself every morning and keep a written record of my progress to keep me focused and on track. By doing this, I would see the trajectory of my weight throughout the week and see the difference a week would make.
With my strategy mapped out and planned, I was ready to begin.
***
I would be lying if I said the first few weeks weren’t tough, for it quickly dawned on me that planning a weight loss program was much easier said, than done. Waking up early to do exhaustive exercises wasn’t exactly my ideal morning routine, and it was hard to fight off the usual cravings for the unhealthy treats I took for granted before I began this program.
It was, however, initially encouraging to see that after the first week I was able to lose a kilo. I had gone from 113kgs, down to 112kgs, but it became increasingly discouraging when a week later, I hadn’t made any further progress.
For almost three to four weeks, I stuck religiously to my plan, and all I saw as a result was just a zig-zag effect. I was 112kgs one day, but 113kgs the next. Every day, I was only working off the kilo I had gained by the end of the previous day.
I was flatlining. I was doing everything I had planned, but I was not making the kind of progress I had initially hoped for.
I was almost about to give up, until I discovered and added a new aspect to my program which would change everything.
To be continued…
