Last winter, while I was sitting next to my wife on the couch, enjoying a beer and watching TV, I asked why I couldn't lose any more weight.
Things had been going well, I told her. My efforts to drop 40 pounds started well. I'd gone in for a check-up–the dreaded physical–and committed to a healthy, balanced diet that included a combination of lean meats, vegetables and the carbs that are described as "good for you," those found in seven-grain bread, for example.
I'd also pledged to cut down on the TV and exercise.
I lost three pounds the first week, another three the second and two the third.
But the next week I only lost one pound. Then the next week: nothing.
It didn't make sense. I lamented that winter night on the couch. We were watching a Law & Order rerun and as the detective hand-cuffed the perp, I took a sip of my Summit Ale and said I thought the information I'd been sold–the information that said living right would pay off was criminal.
Then my wife said this: "Maybe it's not the diet; maybe you need to do more."
More? I'd already given up pizza, steak and two of my favorite shows. "What more could I give up?" I asked as I took another sip of my beer and grabbed a handful of pork rinds. (I'd been snacking on the high-protein, low-carb rinds a lot more now that I can't be outside as much anymore. It's cold and dark out.)
"Well," she said, "according to the Internet, you could stop watching so much TV, don't drink so much, stop stressing about your weight loss.
She handed me her laptop and, to my surprise, researchers around the world had discovered that weight-loss plateaus are often caused by the dieters themselves–snacking more during the winter, sitting on the couch watching TV, stressing out and drinking four or more beers in one sitting–even if it's only once a week.
Okay, I told her. I'll do more.
It's working. Two months later I've lost another 13 pounds. My goal is within sight and I couldn't be more excited about it!
