The Hollando Diet

Congratulations, Will, and happy anniversary. Losing 20 pounds is a healthy accomplishment, in both senses of healthy.

Looking back through the archives, I realize that I missed my own anniversary, which was yesterday. Today is as good a day as any for a report, though, because I have some rather exciting news.

In anticipation of a Hawaii trip this weekend, I weighed myself this morning and, on the same scale and under the same conditions I have maintained throughout the year, the reading was 150 pounds. You will recall that this was my fantasy goal, representing either 35 or 25 pounds lost depending on when you start the clock. We’ll see how sustainable this is. Recently, I’ve been living in the 152-154 range, but I’ve noticed that I tend to hit a target, then bounce up and back for a while, before settling in at the lower weight. (And I first hit 150 last Saturday, though I didn’t report it in anticipation of the pattern recurring, which it did.)

I say this not to brag, but to share my success with the three friends — and the perhaps marginally higher number of readers of this blog — who’ve helped me achieve this. It hasn’t been a Jenny Craig support group, but it sure has been more fun. (I presume, not having been to a Jenny Craig support group. Honest.) Besides, maintaining this weight will require vigilance, with only the occassional extravagant debauchery. Especially considering my personal no-workout rule. In fact, I’m hedging: unlike Will, I have not discarded my old clothes, and indeed often still wear my 36 pants.

I have noticed, however, that my appetite has shrunk. It now takes fewer meals and smaller portions to make me full. And I mean full. Bachelorhood, budgets, and young-professional hours certainly help: I’ve found that the times of greatest risk are those when I have to ape the eating habits of civilized human beings. Such as when I’m at home and my mother says I’m too thin.

Will’s right that people do notice, and not just mothers. An ex-colleague, whom I hadn’t seen in a year, didn’t recognize me at a party in June. I’m pleased with the way I look, though it’s not exactly what I remembered 150 looking like. What’s missing, I suppose, is tone, on account of the whole no-workout thing. I might incorporate some toning exercises, which shouldn’t trigger my asthma.

So here we are, one year on. I intend to continue posting as the news warrants and to encourage the others. Don’t touch that dial.

(Oh, but if you’re a comment spammer, get lost.)