I have eaten hardly any vegetables in the last three days:

I have always been under the impression that as long as the calories

Don't be embarassed with the past. The past is gone. What matters is
what you're doing from now on.

It's my theory that what you eat does matter because what really
matters is the vitamins, minerals and other stuff like Omega-3 that
you take in. I would be glad to hear about a study that surveyed two
guys of the same height and weight, one eating 2000 calories of
tortillas, french fries, and pancake syrup and the other guy eating
2000 calories of salad with some fish, chicken and meat for a month. I
would like to have these results after those two months: 1. Weight 2.
Blood results. 3. Heart condition

Unfortunately, I'm not in a position yet where I can give lots of
advice as I'm still overweight. The day I'll be skinny, I'll be able
to talk with authority. Until then, I'll stay humble. :)

The other day I was talking to a very skinny guy about my weight
problems. He told me, "You just have to avoid fast food restaurants
and you should be fine." Pfff! I never go to those places!

Yes, and I have attributed it to fluid retention.  Sometimes your body
seems to want to hold on to water.  It can be discouraging to see the
scale stick or even jump up.  If you have been eating out, that will do
it because restaurant food is high in salt.

<snip>

Hey Jeff,

Shocking the system is doing something to get your body out of
homeostasis. Your body gets used to doing the same thing over and over
and finds a level of comfort so to speak. So shocking the system can be
anything from increasing the duration or the intensity of your exercise.
Likewise it can be eating more or less food.

I have found that I make some progress when I eat a little more, but not
much more, for a month or so. I do this without gaining more than a
pound. Then I hit my body with a deficit and drop a few pounds. Like I
said, I'm at those last ten pounds and they are indeed the hardest. I
could probably stop where I am at, but I have an image in my mind that I
 would like to attain.

The thing with running more is I am burning more calories and if I am
already eating at a deficit my body responds by burning the stores
(fat). With my weight training I have to be careful to make sure I am
getting enough lean protein so my body doesn't start consuming muscle
tissue also. I find that eating a cup or so of fat free cottages cheese
before I sleep helps. 30 grams of protein. Now I am actually gaining
weight, but can feel there is less and less fat on my body. So can my
finacee. So I know it's not just my wishful thinking. LOL!

As for dropping my distance once the summer hits. I don't know. I'm
guessing that I will probably just maintain. I only upped my run time by
about 15 minutes, so I will still be running for over a half hour at a
shot. I think as long as I am staying active and not overeating I will
stay the same. Besides, I already threw out all my old clothes. A long
time ago in a galaxy far far away I wore I size 42 waist and XXL shirts.
Now I wear size 34 and medium shirts. I could probably squeeze into 32's
if I wanted to.

Good luck with what you are doing. The main thing I have found with
weight loss is that you have to believe in yourself and you have to make
a commitment to yourself to do it. You have to want it more than
anything else and you have to stick to your guns and give up yummies
during the holidays and all the time until you hit your goal. It's not a
short term endeavor, but a lifetime commitment to yourself and no other.
It's a mind set.

Happy Holidays! Eat, drink, and be merry, but do the first two in
moderation :)

Patrick

Probably more than I should have written, or more than you wanted to
hear, but sometimes the fingers take over. Ha!