Irritability

I decided recently that I needed to lose weight. Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm more than a bit heavy, but I'm pretty strong and active, so I don't catch much flak. Think of a shorter version of a guy from World's Strongest Man competitions, but several years without practice, and that's kinda what I am, or so I've been told.

In any case, I don't like the way the guy in the mirror looks at me, so it's time for a change. So far I've lost 12 pounds by watching what I eat, how much, and when. It's been easier than I thought, but I need to add excercise too. I'll spare the science reason, but endorphines are a big part of it. When you're calorie deficient, which is the only way to lose weight, your body turns inward to look for more energy. It takes this from muscle and fat. Unfortunately, muscle is easier to change to energy, which is why you must excercise as well (to keep the muscle), but eventually fat is used. This stage is where losing weight, in fat, helps to reshape the body. Unfortunately, to do this the body must get the energy from the fat, which means you're always tired, because you're not getting the energy you need (which is why the body must get the energy from fat cells). This is where it's important to get exercise, because it releases endorphines. Endorphines are hormones that make you feel good. Right now, I'm just losing weight, but if I want to stick with losing weight, I must exercise so that A.) I don't lose the muscle and strength I want to keep, B.) I do lose the fat I don't need, and C.) I feel good while doing it. No one will stick with anything that makes them feel terrible.

But, back to irritability... being calorie deficient means I'm losing weight, but it also means I don't have the energy I would like to have... which makes me tired a lot. Also, my body is not used to eating the lesser amount I've been eating... which, along with being tired, makes me a little snappy. Little things that shouldn't bother me aggravate me, and something that used to aggravate me makes me very angry now. It's normal to be grumpy when tired, but when you're tired all the time, as I am now, there must be something better than being grumpy all the time. I think as I stay with the weightloss that the hormones in my body will stabilize, and I'll be back to my old self... but right now it's a little difficult to be happy and upbeat when I'm constantly tired. So, I try to keep myself busy, that way I don't have too much time to think, and the more I move, the better my weight loss will be. But as for right now, the changes are making me a little moody, and it's tougher to control my emotions, both high emotions and low.

So, we'll see how this goes. Hmmm, I think I'll post my weight in order to keep myself accountable.

End of January 2011 -- 268 pounds
End of February 2011 -- 256 pounds
and 56 pounds to go. Drücke die daumen, bitte.