intertwingly

It’s just data

Wii Fit Update

I’ve lost ten pounds since I got a WII fit, but that number doesn’t tell the whole story.  Some historic numbers to provide context.

January 2003, physical exam

March 2003, father’s funeral

In the years since, I’ve not dieted, but did moderate my intake a bit, in particular with respect to carbs.  I also started at a gym, which I renewed, and ultimately moved to a larger gym, which provided me with a new assessment.

April 23, 2008, new gym

One way to look at that first number is that Atkins failed me as I inevitably not only bounced back, but gained even more.  A deeper look into the numbers provides a bit more of a nuanced picture.

For example, if the above numbers are accurate, I could have zero body fat and would still be considered overweight.  However, by looking just at the body fat numbers alone, I was just outside the high end of acceptable.

So I started dieting: nothing rigorous, just focusing on a healthy (both in terms of quantity and quality) breakfast, lunch, light snack, and early and light dinners.  And, despite travel schedules and family responsibilities, made a renewed commitment to consistently go to the gym.  I aim for three times a week, with an absolute minimum of one.

Whereas I previously had branched out to do various weights in addition to treadmill, I’ve focused exclusively on the treadmill during this period.

May 11, purchased a WII Fit

August 18, 90 days later

The above data is not enough to compute my current body fat percentage.  My lean mass could have increased (due to exercise) or decreased (due to dieting).  My normal routine is to exercise in the morning followed by a healthy breakfast, one containing both proteins and carbs — normally that's a recipe for bulking up.  As a baseline, if my lean mass were to have remained constant, my new body fat percentage would be about 20%.

This appears to be well within the acceptable range.

Another data point is waist size.  I have a dress jacket that I purchased for my father’s funeral over five years ago, which was representative of the lowest weight I had attained after starting Atkins.  It once again fits perfectly, as do the 33" waist pants I purchased at the time.

Same height, same circumference, 20 additional pounds; the obvious conclusion would be that I’m now denser.

I also have a number of suits and sports jackets that I purchased over the years.  One in particular was a three piece blue pinstripe suit that I purchased shortly after joining IBM in 1981.  It was a fourty regular.  Later that year, I turned 20.

I can now put the pants and jacket on over a dress shirt.  The pants fit comfortably, the jacket nearly so; and there is no strain on the buttons.

The vest doesn’t quite fit — yet.

Losing another 10 pounds (gradually: say, over the course of 3-6 months) would put me into the fitness category in terms of body fat percentages, and would seem to be a worthy goal.  I would still technically be in the “obese” category in terms of BMI, but I am not convinced that this is a measurement is meaningful given my body frame.

It would also likely mean that I could then wear all the same clothes I did when I was 20.  And underneath those clothes be “denser”.

Returning back to the WII Fit, I’m not convinced that the exercises contributed significantly to my weight loss.  It is possible that early morning stretching and aerobic exercise set my metabolism for the day.  But more importantly, at least for me, is the daily tracking and graphing.  I often see up to two pound fluctuations day to day, even when the measurements are taken at the same time of day, same clothing, and otherwise similar conditions.  But the ten day moving average (not graphed as such by the WII — pity) trends are clear and consistent.

This feedback keeps me focused.  And has provided feedback on the relative “costs” of various activities.  Late night dinners out days spent driving are expensive (generally two pounds, and take about three days to work off).  Disrupted sleep patterns are also moderately costly.  On the other end of the scale, some of my biggest losses immediately followed days of large breakfasts and sensible eating for the rest of the day.  Pastas with homemade sauces also seem to work for me.

My father was 20 years and two months older than I.  He’s been gone for over five years.  Diabetes contributed significantly to his state of heath.  By watching my weight, I hopefully can avoid this issue.