It's a New Phil, Week 16
Down two more pounds this week to 254, bringing me to a total weight loss of 43 pounds! Met with the doctor for my bi-monthly checkup. He is pleased with the progress, but still concerned that I may be losing too fast.
Of course, from where I sit, it feels like this thing is taking way too long. But the doc wants me to take a couple or three years to arrive at my goal weight. His thinking is that the longer it takes to come off, the more permanent the change is. I can see where this makes sense physycologically. And I know that physiologically, not permitting my body to go into starvation mode is important for maintaining (and possibly even building) lean body mass while avoiding rapid weight-gain should my daily caloric intake increase along the way -- which it shouldn't, at least not dramatically.
If anything, my daily calories will only continue to go down (as I originally noted here.) I'm still big enough that I can lose weight on about 2000 - 2200 calories per day. When I'm another 40 pounds lighter, I will probably have to drop that somewhat in order to keep losing.
In the end, I may end up practicing something not unlike the healthy life extension technique known as calorie restriction:
A calorie restriction diet aims to reduce your intake of calories to a level 20-40% lower than is typical, while still obtaining all the necessary nutrients and vitamins. CR is also known as CRON, for "calorie restriction with optimal nutrition." Mild CR may be as easy as adopting a much healthier diet, taking a few supplements and not eating snacks.
Looks like I'm already doing mild CR. According to the BMR calculation site I've used in the past, if I weigh 180 pounds when I'm 45 years old (which still has me losing weight faster than the doctor wants, but I think I'm just going to have to keep disappointing him in this regard) I'll need about 1800 calories per day to keep myself at that constant weight. Adopting a more rigorous CR strategy at that point would mean cutting my intake down to 1000 - 1500 calories per day. That would be pretty intense. Of course, at that point, I would start to lose weight again, even though 180 is about the least I can imagine myself weighing.
I'm pretty sure that some of what I'm currently carrying around is muscle, and I would hate to lose that. On the other hand, I don't mind the idea of living longer. Not one little bit.
Stay tuned...
Comments
How old are you?
When you expect serious life extension technology to happen?
My guess is that you shouldn't care about CR. By the time it would matter, much better methods will be around.
Hell, by the time your doctor would be satisfied (3 years from now), there might be some serious weight-loss drugs on the market that aren't stimulants.
Either way, keep it up!
Posted by: ivankirigin![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.blog.speculist.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 22, 2006 08:35 PM
Ivan --
I'm 43. I expect that we'll have some prety good weight loss drug choices in the time frame you described, and my estimate is that the foundation for effecive life extension treatments should be in place by the time I turn 65.
But then, I thought we'd have flying cars by now. There's no harm in hedging one's bets. :-)
Posted by: Phil Bowermaster![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.blog.speculist.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 23, 2006 08:46 AM
Phil,
What about the quality of life associated with CRON. I know it's possible that those few extra years gained could last you through until the next big break, but don't you think that by eating less food, your performance in life and what you can take out of it will be less than what you would get otherwise, despite the extra linear time?
Posted by: ktistecmmachine![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.blog.speculist.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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April 24, 2006 07:15 PM