The Summer Associate Weight Loss Plan

I've heard many of the other summer associates complain about gaining weight. It's the notorious side effect of being wined and dined all summer--massive weight gain.

I was pretty worried about it at the start of the summer. For me, maintaining my weight is a pretty important health issue (and economic issue--I can't afford to replace my whole wardrobe!) so it was not just a matter of vanity. Although there's vanity involved too, I admit. Therefore, I developed a plan.

I would run in the Park as often as possible. Not necessarily every day, but more often than not. Eventually, my goal is to be able to run around the reservoir (what is that, a mile? three?) without stopping. Also, I would walk back and forth to work every day, unless it's actually pouring rain.

That was part one of the plan. Part two: don't eat if the Firm isn't paying for it. This isn't a hard and fast rule because, obviously, I still have to eat something on the weekends. But in general it's not that crazy an idea. I need about 1500 calories a day, give or take, and it's pretty easy to get that many and more in a lunch. Some days we get both lunch and dinner, and that can really add up, so if you look at calories over the course of a week a few missed dinners really help bring the total down.

It's been a success! I've stuck to the plan pretty well, and I've actually lost a pound or two I think. I'm certainly fitting into my suits better than I did the first week of the summer. And no, I'm not starving--believe me, it takes a while for the appetite to recover from 3-course lunches. I try to eat reasonably lightly on the weekends, and once in a while I'll pick up a snack. I feel good, though, and relieved to not be verging toward blimpdom--which I could easily do.

Yeah, it is basically the "exercise and eat less" diet. So? The exercise is in one of my favorite places in the world, and the eat less is a) fun, because the firm's paying for it, and b) really tasty, because the restaurants tend to be great. Oh, and I eat whatever the heck I want at lunch, including dessert! No way am I going to restrict myself to chicken, no sauce (well, I still don't get dressing on my salads if I remember to ask for it), and no bread for the whole summer.

Comments

[ckm]

ATTAGIRL!! I'm proud of you. You're an inspiration to those of us threatened with blimpdom. Sounds like it's working. I need your Aug. schedule.

[zuska]

I did a very similar thing, except I did try and make wise choices at lunch, at least related to carbs. I did not gorge on pasta and bread, and tried to stick with light grilled fish (plenty of it in this seaside city) and my desserts were largely comprised of the sorbet option.

I probably lost a couple of pounds, rather than gaining. Since I was wanting to LOSE at the time, I wasn't all that pleased with the situation, but at least I didn't gain the 20+ that friends were still fighting with in April.

[Boychild]

Great! Wait, NO NO NO!!! Eating all of your calories at once or at best twice is a BAD idea. It is good that you're eating less, but eating a small breakfast (after running) will actually help you lose weight. Calories in and weight gain/loss aren't always directly correlated. You really should eat a light breakfast so that your metabolism keeps going all day, and have a light snack within three hours of your meal. If you eat, say, a grapefruit for breakfast and a small bowl of trail mix half way through the morning, lunch, obviously, then say a cereal bar or something halfway through the afternoon, maybe halfway between lunch and dinner or whatever timing your work schedule will allow, then you'll be doing two things.
1) You'll be adding maybe 100-200 calories to your diet every day. Seems bad. But...
2) You'll be burning at least an additional 300-400 calories a day just through metabolism. Probably more.

I actually started to feel a little out of shape this summer so I started doing this myself. First thing in the morning, a nice run on an empty stomach. Then I'd do all that hooplah I talked about above. I think I lost like five pounds, so now I'm back where I should be. Only been doing it for three days.

BUT, whatever you're doing seems to be working. If it ain't broke, don't fix it I guess. There is the added factor that you're working for a law firm, so your metabolism has to go like crazy just to keep the brain fueled.

[Citations]

Wow, my dear, you certainly have studied up on this subject! And yes, I do sometimes need a little snack here and there, but something small and healthy instead of a whole meal. Also, you lose weight disgustingly easily whenever you like because you are a teenager, and a guy. Both of those attributes affect your metabolism.

I only WISH that thinking hard increased my metabolism--I'd be thin as a rail! :)

[E. McPan]

Aw, Boychild is sweet, looking after his mom.

I lost weight during my summer associateship, too, and it was more like what you're doing, minus the exercise. (I hate exercise with a passion). I just ate smaller dinners, always ate a little breakfast, and ate lunch. Before that, I probably just ate too much to begin with. Also, trudging around in the heat with a suit on probably sweated off some water weight every day.

[Acai Optimum]

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[Tracey Parr]

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[Kelly Conrad]

I disagree about the summer weight gain thing. I think people can more in the winter when they are more sedantary and have Thanksgiving and Christmas to pig out at! The summer has more activities and people more around more and get exercise to counteract the eating. I love to exercise and need to find a good diet supplement.