Over at No Credit Needed, I’ve been writing about debt reduction for more than three years.  I’ve been debt free for more than two.  Here at No. Calories Needed, I’ve been writing about (attempted) weight loss, for a long time, but I’ve really struggled to make much progress.  Why?  What is the difference between debt reduction and weight loss and why have I succeeded at one and struggled with the other?  Some thoughts…

Math is constant, metabolism is variable.  If I send $2000 to a creditor, my balance will be reduced by $2000.  This works, every, single, time.  But, if I eat 2000 calories, my weight (on the scale) might go up, it might go down, or it might stay the same.  Why?  Because weight loss isn’t just about calories consumed, it’s also about calories burned, hydration, heart rate, exercise, heredity… The list it endless.  With debt reduction, I can factor in interest rates, terms of the loan, and payments, and I can pinpoint, to the exact day, when I’ll be debt free.  With weight loss, I can run all of the calculations that I want, but I can never ensure exactness.  This frustrates a math nerd like me!!!

Finance is private, fatness is public.  Let’s face it, when you see someone who is overweight, you notice.  But, how do you know if your neighbor is broke?  For all you know, he’s living off of a ten million dollar inheritance.  Or, he’s so deep in debt that he’s thinking about running away to Panama.  Not so with the fat guy.  There aren’t enough black shirts and black slacks in the world to cover up the fact that a fat dude is a fat dude.  And, as a fat dude, this is discouraging.  With my finances, I can share as much or as little as I want.  I’m in control.  But, with my weight, no matter how hard I’m working, there will still be people who see me and make judgments based on appearance.

Debt reduction is mental, exercise if physical.  Let’s face it.  It is much easier to hit the ’send’ button and make a credit card payment than it is to hit the gym and walk 2 miles.  For a dude like me, who loves reading and writing, it’s much easier to spend my time dealing with cerebral pursuits.  I don’t particularly enjoy exercising, it takes time for results, and I get frustrated being surrounded (at the gym) by people who are in far better shape.  If I know that making a payment, today, will save $15, I’m very motivated to make that payment.  But, if I’m only ‘pretty sure’ that going to the gym will make the scale move, I’m just not that motivated.  It all goes back to the fact that debt reduction is exact while weight loss is inexact.

Debt reduction requires a plan, weight loss requires a plan.  When getting out of debt, I created a plan and I followed it.  When losing weight, I have failed to stick to a plan… I’ve created several plans, but I have not coupled planning AND determination.  Until I do, I won’t make much (if any) progress.  Note to self:  Create a plan you will follow AND then follow it!!!

I don’t pretend to be a weight loss expert.  In fact, I’m pretty much the opposite of an expert.  But, I do know a thing or two about debt reduction.  I have to learn to focus on weight loss, just like I did with debt reduction.  Hopefully, this post will be the first of many where I begin to put the pieces together.

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My daughter has gymnastics this evening and it’s my day to take her.  While she’s working on her back flips, I’ll be at the gym for an extended workout.

Her class will be in session for three hours, so I’ll have plenty of time to stretch, walk in the treadmill for thirty minutes, work chest and back, and then go for a nice swim.  (By the way - When I look at a certain Olympic swimmer, I’m not so sure we are the same species.  Humbling.)

After only a week at the new gym, I’m in love with the place.  The only downside?  It’s twenty five minutes from my house to the gym.  I can’t really justify driving that distance, unless my daughter also has to go to her gym (which is less than a mile from my gym), too.  In other words - For the most part, my schedule revolves around hers.  In a way, this actually helps, because I’m not suffering from gym-burnout.  Instead, I’m actually looking forward to going, BECAUSE I don’t have the freedom to go every day.  Strange, huh?

Final note - Very soon, there will be a cool new header here at No. Calories Needed.  Stay tuned!

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I’ve spent some time redesigning the look and feel of the site.  I wanted No. Calories Needed to look more like my main site, No Credit Needed.  I’ll be tweaking the colors a bit.  I’m thinking of making most of the red graphics green, or blue, or orange.  I’m just not sure.

I’m headed to the gym tomorrow to workout.  I’ve been so busy with work this week, I haven’t been in a few days, an I can feel it!  I’m hoping to swim a few laps and stretch out these old muscles.

Here are a few of the articles that inspired me and informed me this past week, from my fellow members of the Fitness Health Network.

Fat Man Unleashed writes about consistent weight loss.

Get Fit Slowly deals with stress after a difficult few weeks.

Journal of Healthy Living notes that Michael Phelps eats a LOT of food.

Lazy Man suggests four foods that will help your lungs.

Weight Loss Journal reminds us that it is possible to eat without feeling guilty.

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Here’s a window into my weight loss life:

I FINALLY find a workout that I enjoy - and they decide to CLOSE THE CLASS THE DAY AFTER I START ATTENDING!!!

Seriously, they closed the class.

Fortunately, they are going to open a similar class at a different time, so it’s all good.

I went to the gym anyway and I spent some time on the treadmill and I worked out my chest and back on a couple of the machines.  THEN, I decided to go for a swim.

I swam 20 laps, taking my time and just working on stretching out and being smooth in the water.  Guess what?  Swimming REALLY gets the heart pumping.  I felt great after I got out of the pool and I’m amazed how the swim kept my muscles from tightening up.

I’m taking the day off from the gym and will try the new class on Wednesday.  I HOPE that it is a cool as the original class!  Wish me luck.

Oh yeah.  I had to have some blood drawn as part of my free medical screening (that came with the gym membership).  I couldn’t eat breakfast before they drew the blood, and I got a little lightheaded after the blood was drawn.  Needles do NOT rock!

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Thursday, I joined a new gym.  Friday, I went for my first workout.  I really didn’t know what to expect as I entered the facility.  When I signed up, the manager gave me a quick tour, but I had my son with me, so I was a little distracted.  So, as I entered the gym on Friday, I barely knew where the changing room was.  Eventually, I found it, got a locker-key from the front desk, and changed into my workout clothes.

I hit the treadmill for a 20 minute walk.  It felt good to stretch the old muscles.  I walked for a total of 25 minutes, with a 2 minute warm up and a 3 minute cool down.  And then, things got interesting.

I decided to checkout the aerobics room and see what class was on the schedule.  As luck would have it, the next class was a class for guys and girls called ‘lunch box’.

Nervous - terrified really - I decided to throw caution to the wind and join the class.  I need to mention, for the record, that I have NEVER attended an aerobics class of ANY kind.  Heck, I don’t really like to work out if there are more than 3 people in the BUILDING.  As I stated, I was terrified - but I was also DETERMINED.  Change requires determination!

The class consisted of 45 minutes of weighted arm and leg lifts along with some ‘boxing’ style punches - and a few kicks.  There were two other guys in the class and five women.  I situated myself at the VERY back of the class - and started to work out.

45 minutes later, I was exhausted, still a little embarrassed - and TOTALLY HOOKED.  I cannot explain the euphoria that accompanied the end of the work out.  Don’t get me wrong.  It was gruelling, I felt silly being outworked by everyone else in the class, and I have a LOT of work to do, but, when I finished that final rep and laid down that final weight, I felt amazing.

Two days later, I’m a little sore.  But, I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s class.  I talked to the trainer after the class and he encouraged me to come back.  I’m going to arrive a little early, hit the pool for a few laps. and then go to class.  Hopefully, tomorrow will be just as awesome.

Oh, yeah.  I now throw a pretty mean left hook.

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