The Disappearing Waist - the Confession

The Disappearing Waist has been a series of articles I have been writing to track my progress on the fit start health program. I have received lots of encouragement from friends, acquaintances and those who read my associated content articles. I have been slow to write articles on this subject because I have sadly gone off the rails on this program.

My excuse is terrible, and I am ashamed to even confess how this happened. I can sum it up in three words: The Calgary Stampede.

This is where it all began.

It is not the Calgary Stampede's fault; it was my lack of will-power during week 10 of my fit start program. For those of you who are not familiar with the Calgary Stampede it is like dropping Las Vegas in Calgary, Alberta for ten days - without the casinos, the big hotels and the show girls. This city, especially for the business community, becomes an adult play ground full of networking and appreciation events with free food, free booze and management turning a blind eye to coming in late and leaving early.

Stampede I started on track, and honestly, what did me in initially was carbs. Everywhere you go, there is beef on a bun, beef on a bun and MORE beef on a bun. I started out like a good little trooper throwing away the bun and just eating the beef. As ten days went on, I got a little comfortable with my will power, and thought I would eat a sandwich like a normal person. Well, somewhere in there, the wheels went off the cart, and I ended up eating in the same manner "pre" fit start. Some days, I would start over in the morning with new determination, and by 3 p.m. on a work day at an appreciation event, there I am again chowing down on my stampede fare. Then, by the end of stampede, I kind of "forgot" I was on a program, until I noticed the weight packed back on. I have not weighed myself, because I am frightened. I am really frightened.

My coach has phoned me to check in, and I have not yet returned his call. I made a promise to myself to call him this weekend and to confess, and to start back at week one.

There are a few things that have stayed "on" the rails. My exercise regime has increased (so hopefully "some" of my weight gain will be muscle). I am regularly exercising a minimum of three times a week. I also have not had any alcohol or coffee. I have remained faithful to those rules. Sugar and unbalanced meals have become the norm again.

So... everyone... that is my confession. I am writing today to fess up, and hopefully gain a renewed "accountability" around this matter. Tomorrow, Saturday, August 1^st, I am starting back at Week One in my Fit Start booklet, so that I can cleanse my pores of all of this stampede debauchery, and the aftermath since Stampede has ended. It was fun, but now it's back to work.