Last Updated on November 5, 2024 by Michael Brockbank
I am starting the 7-week challenge of losing 20 pounds by Christmas. Initially, I wanted to be below 220 pounds by Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, I gained a bit more over the past three weeks than I wanted.
So, I am changing my ultimate goal to end the new year to hit below 220 before January 1st. Nonetheless, I’m still going to see if I can drop more than 20 pounds in seven weeks.
I’ve done it before. However, I was also 10 years younger and weighed more than 300 pounds. You’ll burn fat much quicker being larger. Still, I think I have great potential to be under 220 before Christmas. I just want to keep my goals realistic.
Unfortunately, the mounts for my tripod broke and I can’t take the photos I wanted to start. I plan on comparing this 220 to the image I have on Instagram still, but I need to buy a new mount for future photos.
Starting at 245.4 Pounds!
Yep, I’m starting heavier today than at the beginning of 2024. It’s been a very stressful end to the year. Actually, things came apart at the seams back in June, but I’ve done a decent job at keeping the cloth from unraveling altogether.
There are a few variables that might change how this challenge progresses, though.
Testosterone Therapy
Recently, I had my testosterone levels tested and they were under where they should be. So, now I get a shot every Wednesday to bring them back up. Some of the side effects are improved muscle development and weight loss control.
That’s what I want, right? What that means, however, is that previous data I’ve recorded about myself might change in profound ways. Instead of achieving overall weight loss, I might have to shift my strategy to reducing body fat percentage.
What’s the difference? Because I already pack on a great deal of muscle mass, adding more is going to tip the scale. That means I don’t want to focus too much on what the scale says but more on how much body fat I have on my frame.
I’ll have a better idea of what I will adjust once I go under 220 pounds. But since I plan on going to the gym and am on testosterone therapy, I don’t know how far below 220 I can actually go.
It’s kind of exciting, really.
Keeping the Stress in Check
The biggest contributor to why the last few challenges failed in epic proportions is because of the sheer amount of stress I go through on a daily basis. This year has been one of the most stressful that I’ve had in a very long time.
The only way I am going to succeed in this challenge is by finding ways to deflate. I’ve already made a few adjustments throughout my week, but I don’t know if they are enough. I feel a bit better, but could definitely use a bit more relaxation.
As I’ve said before, success in just about anything in life depends on your mentality. The fitness of your mind is more vital than that of your physical form. Because if your head isn’t in the game, it’s easier to make poor decisions, have irrational reactions, and talk yourself out of doing things that benefit you in the long term.
Starting with the Basics
I’m not going to try to do anything fancy in the beginning. Usually, I’ll try to push myself to accomplish as much as I can in a short amount of time. To lose the Christmas 20, I’m going back to the very basics of what I initially wanted to accomplish.
How much weight can I lose while committing to my Net 600 Calorie Diet?
Losing Half a Pound Per Day?
In a nutshell, this diet focuses on output versus intake. By setting a calorie goal of 600 in MyFitnessPal, I have to be more active if I want to eat more throughout the day.
Take this morning, for example. For breakfast, I had a Blender Bottle of Emerge, two hard-boiled eggs, and two ounces of New York Strip Steak jerky. Right now, I have 270 calories left for the day. In a bit, I’ll play either the Oculus or the Kinect to burn more calories so I can “afford” lunch and dinner. That’s because the calorie burn from the Fitbit 6 on my wrist will offset the goal.
In the past, I have been able to burn half a pound per day on this particular diet, especially if I keep the carbs below 125 grams. It’s not exactly Keto, but it forces my body to use some of the fat for energy to keep up with the activity.
Since I am keeping track of the macros in a spreadsheet every day, we’ll see if the diet still holds true today as it did back in 2018.
Getting More Active
The greatest contributing factor to my Net 600 diet is physical activity. In order to burn calories to eat more throughout the day, I need some kind of exercise. I want to be more physical anyway, so something like this is sustainable as long as I refrain from sitting on my ass all day.
It’s not very good for my knees, anyway.
This activity can be anything from working up a sweat playing the Oculus or going for a 20-minute walk. Usually, I can burn enough to have a light lunch and dinner just by existing in my day-to-day lifestyle.
To be honest, I would love to do more stuff outside without getting winded. Riding my bike through the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, climbing Red Rocks to go to a concert, living in a nice house at 7,300 feet, and walking up slight hills while camping are just a few of the things I’d love to do without hyperventilating.
Anyway, I’m going to work on increasing my activity during the Christmas 20 and see what happens when it comes to the new year. I doubt that I’ll try out as a running back for the Denver Broncos, but handling an 18-hole course without exhausting myself would be great.
Let’s End 2024 By Smashing Some Goals!
So, even though we’re technically ending the Christmas 20 on Christmas Eve, I’m going to keep a handle on my intake versus output until the start of 2025. I’d love to begin the year closer to my goal weight. Unfortunately, I don’t know exactly what that will be in the end. As I said, I put on muscle mass relatively easily before the testosterone shots. So, who knows what’s going to happen this time around?
Regardless, I intend to finish this challenge in the green aside from Thanksgiving Day. I try not to restrict myself too much during holidays with friends and family. But there should be no yellows or reds throughout the entire spreadsheet. Let’s see if I can collect some usable data for blog posts this time.
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Let’s do it, buddy! I’ll see ya tonight at the livestream
Sounds good. Let’s rock this shit!