My journey to fat loss
Graduating from the university was an important milestone in my life, especially because it significantly lowered my stress level and gave me free time and opportunity to exercise. And after almost two years of doing nothing except working, studying, eating and sleeping it felt great to do something else, outside on the fresh air.
I have created a runkeeper
profile and started logging my activities (bike and first experiments with
running). After I had logged a few of them, it became a habit and also
motivated me to keep trying. Having the data and the ability to see and measure
my progress has been constantly pushing me forward (yes, I know I am a
geek 
).
Exercises were not enough, I needed more information and more knowledge. At that time my friend Luke recommended me a book The 4-Hour Body from Tim Ferriss. I found the book really inspiring, although many of the chapters belong to the category of „do not try this at home“. If I should summarise and pick the key ideas I have adopted, it would be:
- Eating properly is at least one half of the success.
- Even small changes can bring big results.
- Tracking progress and having as much data as possible to do so.
- Using kettlebells in workouts.
From the points above I would like to discuss the first, because I think it is the most complex and important one.
Learning how to eat
Last autumn and winter I started to train and exercise, but I was constantly hitting a barrier of nutrition. Although I was eating the right stuff, I felt tired, moody and not well. It culminated in December, when I was alternating between sick and ok almost every week. The turning point was actually a Christmas gift: I got a voucher for body assessment and professional advice on nutrition from my mom. I had wanted to have the data (body fat, muscles and so on) for some time, but I had not been able to force myself to actually get them.
When I first contacted the nutrition studio, where everything should take place, I got an interesting offer: I could attend a twelve-week course with lectures, regular assessments and a diet plan that would fit them. I braced myself and took it.
On January 15th I had a first session: a long questionnaire and first body
assessment. The results were not so bad, but there was definitely a room (more
like a gap ) for improvement. The following week I got my diet
plan. Six meals a day consisting of ingredients that formed a compact whole that
should „reduce“ me. In the beginning it was tough, my cooking skills were
not astonishing, I had to weight everything, it took a long time and so on.
I grit my teeth and endured. Each week it got easier and easier and after a
while it became a habit. Nowadays I eat every 2–3 hours and it seems normal
to me.
Results after 12 weeks
| 15.1.2012 | 4.4.2012 | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 169 cm | 169 cm | obviously none |
| Weight | 70.9 kg | 65.2 kg | –5.7 kg |
| Body fat | 15.5 kg | 8.0 kg | –7.5 kg |
| Body fat % | 21.9 % | 12.3 % | –9.6 % |
| Muscle mass | 31.4 kg | 32.5 kg | +1.1 kg |
All measurements were done using the same machine. They were also done in clothes, so the actual weight is a little lower, but the difference stays.
The change is not only in numbers and results. I feel more healthy, have got more energy and generally am more happy after the course. Together with other events that had happened it has been gradually changing the way of my thinking from the pessimistic to more optimistic and positive. All it needed was a bit of inspiration, a small nudge in the right direction.
I understand the methods mentioned are not for everyone, but if you have got a strong will (at least to start and try), I can certainly recommend the approach.