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PROGRESS REPORT :: DECADE FOUR :: 17 Mar 2010 – 26 Mar 2010
Start of Decade: 81.0 kgs
End of Decade: 79.9 kgs
Weight loss: ♣ 1100 grams ♣
TOTAL WEIGHT LOST: ♣ 4400 grams ♣
Well, the great news is that I’ve been able to up the rate of weight loss again slightly (1100 grams in Decade Four as opposed to 1000 grams in the previous Decade). Thus, for the first time in God knows how long, I have fallen below 80 kgs!
And the not so great news? The end of Decade Five, which commences today, will more or less coincide with the end of Lent. What this means is that there will be no overriding restrictions on food or drink, so it’s going to be a real test of my “Won’t Power” during the second half of 100 for 100!
One good thing is that the taming of the evening-snacking beast has met with considerable success. I’ve been able to replace fried snacks with more fibre-rich foods for some of the days, and non-fried snacks on some other days. I do believe that if I am able to carry this on for another Decade or two, this problem will be solved sustainably thereafter.
While I have been going a bit easy on the calisthenics routine in order to reduce the risk of injury, I still have made decent progress on this front, and hope to write about it in the next few days. Also, I’ve been putting together a lot of great information on the current thinking with respect to fats, salt intake, etc. Stay tuned to read all about in in the next few days.
As I’ve almost reached the halfway mark pretty much on target, I’m declaring April 4th (Easter Sunday) as a holiday. 100 for 100 will thus move forward by a day, subsequently.
[The Progress Reports for Decade One, Decade Two and Decade Three are here.]
It’s amazing what can be achieved once people set their minds to it.
“It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness” is an old Chinese proverb and also the motto of The Christophers, an organization founded by Father James Keller in 1945, which works on the belief that every single individual — no matter how shy or obscure — can make a difference in the world and positively impact our collective future. The Christophers advises everyone to “emphasise what can be done, rather than what cannot, because complaining just wastes time and energy, and things improve only when more people build up and fewer tear down.”
Sadly, most of us – me included – continue to largely remain cursers of the darkness. Happily, though, there are many others who have begun to light candles. And the light is gradually shining right through, despite the seemingly desperate totality of the darkness all around us here in Bombay. It’s manifested in the Advanced Locality Management (ALM) units that have sprung up in many parts of the western suburbs (and some parts of the island city such as Colaba and Cuffe Parade). ALMs are basically small groups of determined citizens who have taken it upon themselves to improve their neigbourhoods, and this movement has the ‘blessings’ of the municipality. Continue reading On the Promenade
PROGRESS REPORT :: DECADE THREE :: 7 Mar 2010 – 16 Mar 2010
Start of Decade: 82.0 kgs
End of Decade: 81.0 kgs
Weight loss: ♣ 1000 grams ♣
TOTAL WEIGHT LOST: ♣ 3300 grams ♣
Eighty-one point oh. Phew! Made it, but only just! So that’s 3.3 kilos lost in 30 days.
Well, while 100 for 100 is still on target, it’s pretty evident that I’m now getting less bang for the buck and things are not going to work unless I up the ante somehow. There’s no room whatsoever for slackening of any sort. I now sure do understand what Infosys and TCS (and other listed companies in the media glare) must be feeling when they have to declare good results quarter after quarter after quarter for the stock markets without any let up at all. Continue reading Progress Report – Decade Three
If weight reduction is the goal, one of the easy and sustainable ways to augment any other measures that one might be adopting to knock off those spare tyres is by slightly increasing the proportion of dietary fibre in daily food intake.
It’s useful to be aware of what dietary fibre constitutes and to understand the logic behind the link between fibre and weight loss, in order to maximise the benefits and eliminate any potential ill-effects. Continue reading Fibre Factor
Almost in line with the Muktananda Peace Park, about 500 metres to the south, is the Rotary park (Santa Cruz, Mumbai). For some reason I’m unaware of, it’s also known as the Rajesh Khanna park — perhaps the famous filmstar of old inaugurated the park, or maybe he contributed towards its upkeep in the late sixties or early seventies when he was at the peak of his career. I remember seeing him in Anand – one of my all-time-favourite movies, I can watch it again and again and never tire of it: laughing, crying and getting those goose bumps every single time when the audio tape suddenly comes to life at the end (that clip now available on YouTube at this link). Also remember seeing Haathi Mere Saathi and Bawarchi — thoroughly enjoyable movies, as I vaguely recollect, though I’ve long since forgotten the plots. In fact back then, being taken for any movie was a super treat. Continue reading The Train Park
PROGRESS REPORT :: DECADE TWO :: 25 Feb 2010 – 6 Mar 2010
Start of Decade: 83.1 kgs
End of Decade: 82.0 kgs
Weight loss: ♣ 1100 grams ♣
TOTAL WEIGHT LOST: ♣ 2300 grams ♣
Yipee dee doo! I’ve notched 1.1 kilos of weight loss for Decade Two of 100 for 100. The scale said 82 kilos and sent me into an impromptu jig (that’s another 10 calories or so in the kitty ). So I’m ahead of the curve, but only just (by 300 grams). I think this is important, because if I fall back at this stage, making up later will be practically impossible.
I know that Waldo the Weight Monster is not going to take this lying down. He’s going to rear his ugly head in defiance and fight back viciously. So now’s the time to bring in some of my reserve troops and try and break Waldo’s back (without breaking my own!)
I must confess that I was able to achieve the target this second decade only because of some intensified rearguard action in the last three days (extra walking), when I noticed I was falling behind. Snacking is still quite a bit of a problem in the evenings — this is where I must cut back if I am to continue to achieve the targets. From today I am starting with the Food Diary to ascertain just how much of a problem this is. Also, I will totally eliminate deep fried snacks like bhajiyas, samoosas and vadas during Decade Three. I’m adding on a bit of calisthenics in addition to the walking. Other base measures are being maintained. Decade Three, as I said earlier, is going to be crucial, and I’m determined to deal some telling left hooks and right jabs, aimed to knock the stuffing out of Waldo in the next few days.
I am not into fanatical counting of calories. But I nevertheless realise the value of keeping a Food Diary when trying to reduce weight. The very act of noting down all that you consume is enough to keep you aware of where exactly it’s all going pear-shaped. Even if it’s not possible to accurately estimate the amount of calories in different foods, approximations are alright too.
In 100 for 100 I’m working backwards. I’ve estimated that I need to cut back 800 calories per day (either by decreasing consumption or increasing burn), so I don’t really need to keep a Food Diary. But I’m doing it anyway. I discovered a great website on which I can maintain my Food Diary online. The site is called FitDay, and it has several nifty features in addition to the food diary.
Continue reading Food Diary
When I came up with the 100 for 100 programme back in 2007, it was somewhere around the end of September. While things started out reasonably well in the first three decades, what I didn’t count on was the havoc that the imminent festive season was about to play on my noble intentions. With Dussehra in mid-October, Diwali soon after and a trip to Goa in between, I didn’t have to wait for Christmas to call it all off. Attempts to revive things once or twice in the middle also turned out to be non-starters.
This time around, though, the timing is much more strategically sound, and the chances of seeing it through till the end on May 25 far, far better. All because of Lent. Continue reading The Season of Lent
Were I to tell you that there are innumerable great places to walk in the congested city of Bombay (Mumbai) you would probably smile cynically in disbelief and mutter under your breath “Just what has he been smoking…”
Right through my 100 for 100 programme, hopefully at the pace of one every decade, I’m going to tell you all about these great places and gradually wipe that cynical smile right off your face.
First up is my current favourite — The Swami Muktananda Peace Park adjoining Saraswat colony in Santa Cruz. This used to be a poorly maintained municipal park a few years ago. Then the Brahma Kumaris took it over, and have transformed it into a haven of tranquility and rustic natural serenity — thankfully minus the artificial, manicured opulence that’s a characteristic of places such as Jogger’s Park in Bandra. Continue reading Walking in Peace
DECADE ONE: 15 Feb 2010 – 24 Feb 2010
So here are the results everyone has been waiting for!
Start of Decade: 84.3 kgs
End of Decade: 83.1 kgs
Weight loss: ♣ 1200 grams ♣
Well, I’ve lost 1.2 kilos in the first ten days of 100 for 100. From 84.3 kgs, I’m down to 83.1. Can’t say I’m not happy, but will have to admit that I’m not overly delighted. For, I do know that it is easy to lose a bit of weight quickly at the start of any fitness programme. As one goes along, the rate of loss slows down, and one has to sometimes work harder just to stay in the same place. Decade Two and Decade Three will be crucial for me, and will determine if all my careful calculations need to be completely reworked or not. Continue reading Progress Report – Decade One
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