When Eat. Live. Be. kicked off four weeks ago, I expected that this update would be filled with awesome tales of loss and amazing numeric progress. I thought I would be writing triumphantly about how much I lost over the last month. I thought I would be celebrating, and cautiously continuing to month 2. Something different has happened though.

See, while I’ve felt the results in the form of more energy and a trimming, less flabby body, the scale isn’t telling the same story. Not at all. Hell, I think the scale might have its own mystery plot happening, because what I am feeling and seeing are mysteriously unconnected to the number on the scale.

Well, maybe they aren’t such a mystery. I mean seriously. Have I been perfect with my eating choices? No, and some bad choices have certainly taken their toll on my weight. Although we cut back on takeout, we didn’t cut it out entirely. Have I been perfectly disciplined about exercising? No, I exercised a lot — way, way, way more than in previous months — but I didn’t do organized exercise every single day. I skipped the days where I was sick (I think that was 3 this month), and also when I had to shovel us out (at least once a week). I wasn’t perfect, and the scale is showing the imperfection.

Month1-compare

Despite all of that, despite the fact that I didn’t do enough to make the scale slide down, I feel so much better today than I did just four weeks ago. My energy level has increased exponentially. My midsection feels tighter than it has in a long time. My legs feel stronger, and even look a little thinner. I see some changes — just not the huge changes I was anticipating.

You know what? While I am disappointed, I don’t feel that bad about how I did. I’ve made sweeping changes in my lifestyle and improved how I eat. I look at my photo from one month ago and compare it to today’s photo and I see the difference. There are a million little reasons that the scale isn’t budging, but ultimately, the number isn’t as important as what I see. All that said, I want to see more. A lot more.

So here are my month 1 results:

January 2011 weight loss: -1.8 lbs
Total ELB 2011 weight loss: -1.8 lbs

Overall feeling: more fit, more energy, happier

So, that’s that. I will continue working on this. I will exercise more, and at greater intensities. I will eat better. I will try harder to make the changes necessary to make my scale go down and my body look fitter. Please stick with me. I know I can do this.

My Favorite Healthy Change

Now, onto something happier. My favorite healthy change has been the addition of regular exercise into my life. It makes me feel great — like I can do anything. My body is getting stronger, which is absolutely awesome too. But the thing that’s made the greatest impact is that I have found a way to exercise that I adore and can get excited about.

Here’s what I do: I fill up a big bottle of water and head to the home gym. Once there, I put on my iPod and listen to music with a great beat. But by listen I really mean drown everything else out. Then I read on my Kindle while I walk. I’ve read 13 or so books this month — many of them while walking on the treadmill. When doing this, I completely lose myself in the music and the book and before I know it, it’s been 30 or 40 minutes — sometimes more. Awesome.

Alright, now give me some brutal honesty: Do you see any changes in my body? Or am I deluding myself?

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