(Day 107 / -73 +or-) Totally Rad Approach

I hit the bleachers again this morning, plodding along well before sunrise. I imagine those just waking up in the dark houses that line the field, wondering what that thunder is in the East. Hey, it's just me shaking the big metal bleachers. Over time I hope they realize that I'm shaking them less and less as I shrink and that, one day, they'll hear nothing at all- just see a sleek streak up and down the stairs.

I was in Costco today and noticed that they carry this product I've been seeing a lot of on the television. It goes by the brand name alli (I'm misremembering the pronunciation as in ally, I'm sure) and is touted as a commitment to real weight loss and the only FDA-approved over-the-counter diet pill.

"Hooray," I say.

I think it's great that there is something on the market that may get positive results. Will I try it? No. But that's just me and it really doesn't look like the kind of commitment I'm looking for. I certainly don't want to commit to any of the side/"treatment" effects. I have to admit though, blocking fat absorption sounds pretty good. Still, it's just not for me.

Being fat is tough, losing weight is tougher- especially at first. But the way I look at it is this; nothing you ingest is going to really address the "real" problem- and it's a MATH problem. If calories going in far exceed those burned or excreted, the surplus will be stored as fat. 2500 calories of excess translates roughly into a pound of fat. You could probably super-size something at a drive-thru and get pretty close to that. Avoid the excess and create a caloric deficiency through exercise, and you'll lose weight. I really believe that it's that simple. Not easy, just simple.

From what I can tell, most weight loss programs re-package just that. Even gastric bypass surgery does only that; create caloric deficiency. Do you need surgery or a pill? No. You just have to put down the food. You just have to change the way you think about it. You just have to get up a move a little. You just have to change your life. You just...

It's easier said than done- everything worthwhile is. I'll tell you what, I feel better knowing that what minor successes I have made are mine, not some pharmaceutical company's, not some doctor's, not some late-night, compensated, celebrity endorser's (that's right, not even your's, Chuck Norris), or some guru's. Just mine- a fat dude who'd just had enough and realized that all those people are RIGHT, all those PROGRAMS work, all the PILLS, MACHINES, and PROCEDURES are effective- effective at creating a caloric deficiency in the body resulting in weight loss. And I realized I could create the same effect without them. For them, my thanks- my absolute gratitude. Thanks, but no thanks (if you get what I mean).

That is what I'm doing, and will continue to do for the duration.