I have a mission. In 16 days from today, I'll be embarking on a southernly journey to enjoy the company of my extended family on the occasion of our annual family reunion. The journey itself, a perilous 4-hour drive, fraught with screaming children, a wife who's disposition worsens in direct proportion to the frequency and amplitude of the aforementioned screaming, and the growing temptation to indulge in a Bacon & Cheese Whopper at every service centre along the journey.
When last my ever-broadening shadow darkened my cousins' door, I was a man of considerable corpulence. One year hence, I am today a man appreciably less horizontally challenged, who can once again lace his own boots without running short of breath. I bashfully admit that I'm excited to see my family's reactions at my having lost over 30kg since last we met.
However, being so close to my next milestone of 'double digits', and knowing that three days of bending elbows with my cousins is sure to elicit an unfavourable number from my scales, I'm aiming to reach this goal before the grand event. That's 16 days to lose 3.8kg - roughly 225g per day or 1.55kg per week - challenging to be sure, but not impossible. I want to roll into the event floating on the good news that I just reached that milestone and celebrate it with my family.
But how I don't hear you say? Hrmm... I know well from past experiences that my attempts to go too hard, too fast often result in early disappointment - yes, I'm still talking about dieting - so I need to play this one cool. Sneaky, little changes my body won't freak out about, resulting in a weight-loss embargo. To start, I'm going to shave 50kcal off my daily calorie limit, eat ONLY low carb, go for a leisurely 30 minute walk each day I can get away with it, drink 1L more water per day, and make sure I get to sleep before 10pm each night.
Double digits... man, I haven't weighed double digits since 2016. I can't wait to see it.
