The Reluctant Hubby: A Weighty Topic …

Does this mirror make me look fat? Or does my fat make me look fat?

It’s time to talk about something a little bit heavy. Me.

Now if you know me in real life (or if you didn’t, but just saw me walking down the street), you’d never say “THAT guy has a weight problem!” If anything, you’d say that guy needs more of it. Yes, I’m skinny, and I thank my Dad and his Dad and all my ancestors before that for the wonderful genetics I’ve been blessed with.

But … (does this blog make my butt look fat?)

I stepped on the scale this morning (“hungry and naked” as we like to do it here in our household) and the number staring up at me said 175.8 pounds. My BMI is currently 22.6, firmly in the normal range. But I think BMI is a severely flawed measuring stick. And I also know that in a little more than five months I’ve gained 11 pounds.

What what?

I’m not freaked out because my low point at the end of January was an artificial number. Our family had just completed a 30 Day Whole Foods Thrifty Challenge where we ate on a limited food budget. For an entire month I ate almost no processed food or a single meal at a restaurant. And I lost nine pounds without even trying. (The lesson here: don’t eat processed foods or at restaurants if you want to lose weight fairly easily.)

As soon as the Challenge ended, our family rebounded and visited all of our favorite eateries. I reacquainted myself with potato chips. And processed food returned to the pantry. And my flat stomach went back into hibernation, kind of like those cicadas that have a 17-year pupae cycle.

The real math is I’ve gained two pounds since last November. Not a bad number, but one I’d like to bring back to level and then put into the negative column. Sadly it’s the summer, the land of cookouts, ice cream, and ice cold beer. Damn. What I do need to do is take advantage of all the fresh produce available at this time of year and make sure I’m eating more salads for lunch.

Because I liked my flatter stomach. And more importantly, so did Lisa.

Previously on The Reluctant Hubby: “Know When to Fold ‘Em”

photo credit abbamouse