I keep a daily log of things that are important to me in Google sheets and have done so for many years.
I was curious about how my weight has changed over the years, so I looked it up:
- 2012 average – 200 lbs
- 2015 average – 200 lbs
- 2018 average – 205 lbs
- 2021 average – 210 lbs
- 2023 average – 215 lbs
- 2025 average – 220 lbs
I do not like where that trend is going. I basically am gaining 2 lbs per year. I do not want to get to 225. What can I do?
I am not super unhappy with my weight, but I am not really happy with it either. I generally try to eat healthy, including usually starting the day with either eggs & salsa or oats & peanut butter & honey, and usually have a blender drink with spinach & blueberries. My wife cooks pretty healthy dinners usually. I do eat a ton of snacks at night though (bags of beef jerky, homemade popcorn with sugary sauces and seasonings, etc). I go out to eat maybe once or twice a month at restaurants, and those meals are usually pretty unhealthy.
I tried a diet once before around 2019 and got down to 190 and then went crazy and ate everything and my weight bounded back to 210. My opinion from that experience was that you can control your diet for a period with willpower, but your lizard hindbrain will overpower your will if you go too far or too long.
From studies I’ve read, diets do not really work. Most people regain the weight after the initial diet period as I did.
Surgical and pharmaceutical cures are worse than the disease. My opinion is long term effects are not well known or understood and are likely quite detrimental.
Around 15 years ago, I was about 25 years old and weighed 200 lbs. I exercised pretty intensively and was stronger than I am today at 220 lbs. My cardio was not as good as I mostly did rock climbing and Crossfit at that time. I started running 10 years ago around the age of 30 when I met my wife. 5 years ago, I was diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis and switched to cycling. My cardio peaked around 2 years ago, but is still fairly strong. My weight lifting (pull ups, push ups, etc) has fallen off a good bit.
I have started to notice a bit of jiggle around my midsection. I am quite tall though so it get spread out. Tall guys can often be quite obese without people noticing much as the weight get spread out. I know tall guys who weigh 300 lbs and are obese, but don’t look terrible. But I want my body to be healthy and live a long time for my kids.
My wife has said the late night snacking is my biggest problem and she is probably right. By the end of the day though, I am usually a little burnt out and tired and just want to indulge myself. I cut out alcohol several years ago, so snack food is my primary vice / release. Perhaps I could make myself a rule of no eating after 7 or 8 pm?
I also have had a goal to see if I can only eat food I have produced myself on my farm and garden for 90 days, that probably would help.
Half the problem is having unhealthy stuff in the house. If there is a Reeses or a bag of jerky in the cupboard, I will eat that every time before eating carrots or something healthy.
Maybe I will make a goal of no snacking after 7 pm?
And a goal of no sugar / unhealthy foods in the house? I used to have that rule before I got married, but my wife likes to keep chocolate peanut butter cups and things like that in the house. She probably won’t like it if I throw her treats away.
And start to pursue my goal of only eating food I’ve grown myself harder?
Or make a goal of eating nothing with added sugar? That removes most sauces, beef jerky, snacks, and other treats… even pickled beets which I am eating right now. Processed sugar is extremely hard to avoid. Hmm.
Any suggestions?