Mid-2025, half-way through what we may come to label the AI decade, and again I’m re-inventing myself (is that some kind of recursive paradox? How did I invent myself in the first place?). Ha, beats staying the same I guess. Change is inevitable and all that (except from vending machines).
Near-enough 100 kg (15st 10 lb) and 6′ /183 cm doesn’t look that bad – in clothes, as you can see – but it’s definitely too heavy, even though I have only a singular chin. That’s a BMI of almost 30 – on the high end of yellow (blue – green/healthy – yellow/overweight – red/obese on my Renpho scales). Supposedly, I should be 62 – 84kg (average 72.75 kg / 11st 6 lb). So, I’m going to aim for an ambitious 75 kg – near enough 12 stone, which will involve evaporating 25% of my current body. Yikes. No, that’s ridiculous. Let’s re-calibrate: 80 kg / 12 St 8 lb, losing 20% of current lard.
I used to be able to eat like a pig and remain perfectly vertically parallel. People said I had hollow legs; one remarked that I required planning permission for my meals. Winner of a gulab-jamin contest circa 1995 and once slandered as being bulimionic, I guess I was simply blessed with good genes in the metabolic rate department. Inevitably this slows down as we age, and sadly I am no exception.
I know, not just from statistics, that fat is a killer: several people I’ve known have died early from excess blubber (and its complications); early death is but the culmination of many propblems and ill-health that result from obesity.
Strategy
First of all, I have to regard this challenge (becoming a healthy weight) as vitally important, not just some dreamy nice-to-have; it’s an essential element – in fact the first) in the success triad of health, wealth and love (sa-di-am). It’s actually not just for me: As a coach, I can hardly promise clients a transformed life if I haven’t transformed my own! Also, no one element in the success trial is achievable long-term without improving the other two, so improving my weight and thus health will help improve wealth and love. A clarification: by love, I don’t necessarily mean romance; as far as I’m concerned, it involves all relationships, including family, friendships, casual interactions and spirituality.
Secondly, whatever I do has to be sustainable in the long-term. That means no crash diets and hopelessly hoping to overcome hunger with self-control. Talking of which, no drugs like Ozympic and Mountjaro. The complement to no crash dieting is no diet-breaking treats beyond modest celebrations at occasions like birthdays and Christmases. Similarly, no wasted gym subscriptions when I hate going to the gym, just gentle, regular and enjoyable exercise like walking, swimming and cycling.
Thirdly, I’m going to shame or brag myself into success by going public here (and perhaps elsewhere when I succeed). Sure, no-one may even read this humble blog, but I’m still going to put it out there. If writing stuff down works, so much more will doing so publically.
Finally: vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian. I do my best to live by the Bhagavad-Gita, which definatly promotes a vegetarian diet. However, such a diet lacks key nutrients, most notably vitamin B12 and omega-3. This is difficult to reconcile, so while I’m currently an omnivore, I’m exploring the subject.
Tactics/regime
- High protein: i.e. vegetables, nuts, eggs, meat and fish. Make big salads in containers for augmenting every meal.
- Low carbohydrate. I’m not going full keto: I tried that and it’s too hard to sustain, also feels very restrictive on what one can eat. Let’s say verging on keto wherever possible. I’ll have the odd small rice, potato or pasta dish, maybe the odd croisant, but no loaves in house – it’s far too easy to just overdose on toast. Likewise, no sugar, sweets or chocolate.
- Low fat. I’m not going to buy specifically low-fat stuff, just go easy on it. Stuff like poaching tomato & mushrooms breakfasts rather than frying. When I do have fat, use extra-virgin olive oil, butter, butter ghee and coconut oil.
- Supplements and special foods: Daily vitamin D (in the winter), zinc, MSM, glucosamine, co-enzme Q10 and cider vinegar; coffee, greek/live yoghurt; one fruit a day; one teaspoon of honey a day.
- Minimised plastics and other toxins: Wherever possible, drink distilled or filtered water; avoid plastic food & drink containers, seed oils, junk/highly processed/take-out food and artificial sweetners.
- Minimal dairy: just milk in coffee; greek/live yoghurt; cheese and cream in moderation.
- Drinks: No alcohol or sugary fizzy drinks/fruit juice, just water, tea and coffee.
- Intermittent fasting, namely between 8pm and 8am, ideally more.
- Never eat unless I’m actually hungry.
- Leave a little on the plate, and definately no seconds.
And finally
No diet is complete without branding. When it works, I can sell a book about it! This is Andrew’s Self-Optimising, Universal and Sustainable Diet. ICFAACO (I can feel an acronym coming on).
We’ll see how it goes… I’ll update in a month or so…