The Football Fan’s Diet

By Matt DeReno
On The FFD

PITTSBURGH – As you may have guessed from the date of my previous posting, I have lost what can only be described as a pitiful season on The FFD. I failed in my effort to be healthy. I failed in my effort to maintain the weight I lost earlier in the year. Well, let us say, I blew out a knee cap or something like that. I was standing at 2-2 when I sort of quit. Well, let us also say, it is time for a new season – and for that I must be excited at the chance to finally get healthy at last. Time to build upon the success of that playoff year last year at this time. I must not fail. I must lose that weight. I must develop the healthy strategies that can get me there.

I know what many people say about starting anything on the beginning of a new year, but I did have some considerable success last year. However, I recall when the summer started, the magic was over. I limped into the playoffs and was almost waiting for a merciful exit and I got it. I was played out. I didn’t have the stamina to go the distance.

Time to do it again – only better. Only make it last this year. To do that I have to address the underlying reason I did not win the Super Bowl last year.

What are those reasons? Well, they may be—who am I kidding, they are—deeply rooted into my associations with food as a way to relax and deal with life’s daily stress. Food had become too much of a comfort association for me and I need to change that. I don’t think I ever really solved that last year. I never found that new way to deal with stress and relax.

The success I did enjoy, may hold the key to lasting success this time. I have went back and studied those entries about why it all seemed to click in early February last year when I enjoyed an unprecedented month or two of health. After which, I slowly faded back to my old ways.

Quick appraisal of Season II on the FFD

Generally, here are some quick observations upon reviewing the Season II data:
• When I blow it – I blow it big.
• I had a wonderful stretch in early Feb. last year. I had 18 consecutive winning days.
• High score for one week was 70-3.
• I scored 70 points 3 times.
• I sort off lost my drive starting around Easter.
• I struggled to be healthy when I was sick in March.
• Mediation in the morning, helped me stay focused.
• There were a couple times when I felt really hungry from so many days of limited meals, which led to blowing it.
• Low weight of the year was 216.

New Strategies

What follows are some new things I will try to reach the 185 mark:
• 2 meals a day plus a snack if needed – 1 low carb breakfast / 1 meal around 3
• Exercise in the morning – 30 minutes.
• Walk the dog at night and/or with Izabella after school – 55 minutes
• Get back into bike riding / 1 or 2 times a week when the weather gets nicer.
• 1 day a week can be a Rest and Recovery day. On these days my DGO is raised to a level of weight maintenance for one day. If met, no points are scored or lost. If exceeded, it is a loss. If under the DGO, points scored as normal. The idea behind this is that after 6 days of good exercise and eating right – we might need a little more food to stave off an eventual breakdown binge.
• 1 Beer will equal 3 points. Though I don’t admit it, this could be the rule that takes me to 185. In fact, I think it is clear I must drastically reduce beer consumption if I want to succeed. Beer always leads to lower inhibitions when it comes to food.
• Mediate every day – looking back, this seemed to coincide with doing very well. This could be a way to deal with stress.
• Rewards and Relaxation: writing, movies, video games – no calories there!
• Other out-of-the-box ideas: learn a new sport, play basketball again, walk during golf, fishing for relaxation?
• Do a run/walk event somewhere – for a good cause.
• Develop a spiritual / wellness framework to help deal with stress – use this framework to replace food.
• Develop and nurture an intellectual curiosity about underlying problems related to eating.

Moving forward with Season IV

Last year, on that Season II, I was a playoff team. That was about it. I exited in the first round. I didn’t win the Super Bowl. I tried another Season III, but I really blew it for the holidays and have now written that season off as being on an IR of sorts. This year I want to have the best year yet.
This new season presupposes that I know a thing or two about why I didn’t win the Super Bowl last year and attempts to add the necessary strategies to sustain health and weight loss. This year, I want to run the table. I want to be the 72’ Dolphins. Isn’t that the way a champion should think? Can I do that? Why not?

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