On Asymptotes
Does the human body have asymptotes, weights it will never cross try as one might? For more than a month I’ve been very slowly homing in on 160 pounds: one week down to 162, another up to 165, and a third back down to 161. But never 160 itself, let alone below it. Of course, I’m not really “dieting” anymore — and forget about exercise. I’m also down 20+ pounds since July, which means the low-hanging fruit is long since picked.
Today, however, I did register the coveted 160. Earlier I said that, like Will, I wanted to be into the 150s by Christmas. Assuming 160 isn’t really an asymptotic weight for me, I supposed that’s still possible. My hunch, though, is that it is a barrier of some kind that will need a renewed austerity to break. Thing is, I don’t much want to renew austerity, especially at Christmastime. (Did someone say “cookies”?) Perhaps 159 will make for a good, albeit trite, New Year’s resolution.
The human body must have distinct points of inflection. My rate of loss increases between 188 and 178, decreases from 178 to somewhere below that, and will likely approach zero around 160 lbs. sometime next year. So I suppose we exhibit asymptotic behavior at the end of the weight loss, but at least the rate of weight loss is more favorable when weight loss is more desirable.
I’m starting to see how work can accelerate or deccelerate weight loss. I’ve been busy talking over lunches and dinners, so I haven’t been able to eat. That’s about the only way to keep me thin–keep me in a group so I talk instead of eat. The walking at work is more than I expected and more than I have performed in the last few months. So either I overeat when I get home or just go to sleep. If I sleep, then I loose weight.
Matt, I predict you will weigh 157 lbs. on December 31. Then in January, you’ll rocket down to 150 lbs. and become buff as you take on working out between work and sleep time. Yes, I’m serious. I’ve got a side career as a psychic.
Comment on December 9, 2004 @ 11:15 pm
Asymptotes are certainly intrinsic to the body: as time goes on, the belly’s curve becomes deeper. Low-hanging fruit indeed.
Along the line’s of Holland’s advice of talking rather than eating, I might suggest the following complementary dieting alternative:
(a) earn a musician’s salary; then
(b) live in Manhattan; then
(c) only eat when dining out, like a good New Yorker; then
(d) eat out every other night.
Who says city-dwellers can’t be desert aescetics, too? Locusts, anyone?
Comment on December 11, 2004 @ 6:36 pm