Obsession with Numbers
by Jeremy Chance
I think innately as human beings, we are all obsessed with numbers. They’re so readily available for us. Statistics. Grades. Money. Time. And most relevant to me right now: Calorie consumption. Miles. Cardio time. Reps. Weight.
This week I just finished my tenth consecutive week of working out six days a week. Thanks to my Lose It! app on my phone and account online, I’ve been able to track my calorie consumption. I’ve only gone over my daily amount once in 8 weeks of using the app.
I’ve ran more miles in this 10-week period than I have ever in my life. On the treadmill I can run comfortably at 8 mph (7.5 minute mile), up from the 5 mph when I started. I live on the elliptical.
I’ve also lifted weights pretty religiously. I haven’t lifted this rigorously since baseball conditioning in high school.
But the most important number of all right now is 35.6.
In 10 weeks, I have lost 35.6 pounds and am currently weighing in at 232.4 pounds. Last week, just for fun, I tried on a pair of jeans from my freshman year (before my “Freshman 30″), and there’s some room to spare. I tried on some vintage fit (though it should say “not for fat people”) shirts that didn’t fit before, and now they do. The problem is, and I use the word problem loosely because it’s a problem I’m okay with, now all of my dress clothes and other clothes are starting to not fit.
I don’t want this post to be one where I sit here and brag about how hard I’ve worked and how much weight I’ve lost. I mentioned that I want this space to partially serve as a resource for other people who want to lose weight, and that’s what I’m going to do.
The reason I’ve been so successful with this weight loss is because I’ve worked so unbelievably hard at. There’s nothing else I can really say other than that. Working out six of seven days of week is a pretty rigorous routine I’ve gotten myself into.
Here’s what a standard workout week looks like for me:
- Monday: 30 minutes on the elliptical, arms workout (chest press, flys, curls and triceps), finish up with 5 minutes on the treadmill
- Tuesday: 45 minutes on the elliptical OR 10 minutes at 7.5 mph, 10 minutes at 7 mph and 5 minutes at 8 mph on the treadmill
- Wednesday: 30 minutes on the elliptical, arms workout (chest press, flys, curls and triceps), finish up with 5 minutes on the treadmill
- Thursday: 45 minutes on the elliptical OR 10 minutes at 7.5 mph, 10 minutes at 7 mph and 5 minutes at 8 mph on the treadmill
- Friday: 30 minutes on the elliptical, arms workout (chest press, flys, curls and triceps), finish up with 5 minutes on the treadmill
- Saturday: 45 minutes on the elliptical
- Sunday: a day of rest
In addition to putting in so many hours at the gym, I’ve really been watching what and when I eat. For starters, I’ve really tried to cut out eating out as much. I’ll admit, I think the fall semester I ate out 4 of 5 days a week on campus, and that’s how this semester started out too. Now? I couldn’t tell you the last time I ate McDonald’s. I had Burger King as a “celebratory meal” for running the 5k. I’ve only occasionally eaten at Qdoba, and all you PMO people out there now how difficult that is.
Those days I would forget to bring a turkey sandwich to campus, I’d order Jimmy John’s or grab Subway. The only time I would allow myself the option of eating fast food would be Tuesday’s when my little brother, little sister and I would grab lunch and would occasionally go to Arby’s. Even going out to restaurant’s I’d watch what I eat. Anytime I’m home there’s generally one trip to Applebee’s and one trip to Rodney’s, but I still try and eat really well. Those 100 ouncers of beer may not be the best, but I run a little extra after partaking in those.
I’ve almost completely cut out pop. I allow myself to drink pop once a day, but most days I don’t at all. I drink a lot of water, lots of milk, and have recently started drinking both SoBe Life Water and Vitamin Water.
To make a long story short, my obsession with a number has developed through hard work and eating smart.
I’ve been fortunate to have as much success with this as I have, but I still look in the mirror and am not satisfied. I still have to stay motivated, and looking in the mirror gives me that motivation.
If any of you have any questions or want to leave any encouraging words, go ahead and leave a comment.
Until the next time, I’m still going to be working hard to get my life together and keep it that way.
J-
Let me first start out by telling you how proud I am for you bro. You have really done a 180 on your lifestyle, and it’s definitely changing your life for the better. You are looking better and better each day, no homo
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I will tell you that you are an inspiration to me. You know that i’ve been working out as well, but have not seen the results that you have. This, of course, is discouraging to me, but at the same time I know that you support me, and that helps.
Maybe one day you and I could be on the beach with a Corona with our wives, and girls being jealous of our ladies because they have husbands with dashing good looks.
Continue on bro…that’s all!
Hey bud,
That Coronas on the beach with our wives thing sounds pretty good.
I don’t really know how much of an inspiration I am, trust me. I know I’m getting doing all of this to be healthier. But to be honest, with everything in our day-to-day lives, of all the things that are out of my control, my physical well-being, for the most part, is in my control. It’s just about time that I took control of it.
I really think you’re about to break through your barrier, man, and I’m happy for you. Honestly, my happiness with my success so far has been tempered a bit because I know you’ve been busting your butt and haven’t seen the results you’ve wanted so far. It’s because you’re my bro, and I love you, and I know you’re working hard. But I think you’re about to break through, and good things are ahead for you, in all areas of your life, I hope.
Maybe I’ll catch you at Snap sometime this week. We’ll definitely have to get together other than that though!
JChance, I am terribly proud of you! I’m so sad because I took practically all of last week off due to poor timing and car trouble, and now I feel like I have to work back up to where I was at. Who knew a week could do that to you??
You know, i did notice that it had been a while since I’ve seen you there. You and Shawn have some crappy luck when it comes to your vehicles. It is weird that taking a little bit of time away can make you feel like your weeks behind where you were. If I even happen to take a couple days off, I feel like it takes a while to get going. You’ll get back to it, that’s for sure! It’s hard to start the routine, but once you get into it you’re golden! Hope to see you there soon, although with school done I’ll probably be going a lot in the early afternoon.
Good job Jer! i could tell your polo was a little big on you at rod’s last night. lol. you are obviously doing awesome…but if i could make a couple suggestions…
1) have you ever tried green tea? when i was trying to cut out pop i decided to try it and i am hooked! and the good thing is…it’s good for you! the diet lipton with berry or citrus is awesome!
2) you should do some leg weight training. the more muscles you have in your legs the more calories you’re gonna burn on the treadmill and elliptical. and i find that a lot of the times i can do leg training AND cardio at the same time. doing circuits of squats, lunges, jumps, etc really gets your heart going!
keep up the awesome work!
Hey Nicole!
Thanks for reading. It’s nice to know people are so supportive. Fortunately, but kind of unfortunately in a way too, a lot of my clothes are starting to not fit, especially my shorts and pants.
I haven’t drank too much green tea before though, but I might have to give it a shot. I think Kels drinks it a bit. I have to admit I’ve definitely become addicted to Vitamin Water though. I may have to throw in a green tea here and there to switch it up a bit and keep it interesting.
I actually used to do some leg work on non-arm days when I started working out, but I got into the habit of just doing my cardio and being done with it. I think you’re right though, and I’d definitely like to get back into the leg workouts. Now that school’s over and I’ll just be working, I can put in some more time at the gym. Pinky mentioned running it two-a-day style, so we’ll see.
I definitely appreciate the suggestions!
2-a-days are pretty sweet if you have the time. you can do everything you want, but since it’s split up you dont have to kill yourself.