A couple of the diet sites have pinged me about trying to get the Fatblogging(tm) movement to join their services. Some of these services record your process and others are competitive.

FatBlogging is not associated with any services--it's a blogging movement where you post about your diet/exercise on your blog and tag it fatblogging. That's it. We ask that you do it daily, but that is a goal not required.

Fablogging is *not* a competition, it's a lifestyle.

While weight loss competitions might draw some folks for the short term, it will hurt in the long term because a) many folks don't like competitions and b) when the competition ends so does the motivation for those who signed up for it. You then need to replace that competitive motivation with something--and that's a big risk.

In terms of psychology, competition is also a very low level--immature in fact--motivation. I don't recommend it for deep change like is needed for weight loss. In other words, the motivation needs to come from within you and that motivation is best supported by a community of like-minded people. NOT COMPETITION... we're all in this together.

You're better off joining fatblogging than a competition because with fatblogging you get support, empathy, insights, tips, and conversation--and you might even make some friends.

Wasn't able to workout the last three days due to travel and a lack of sleep. However, I was faced with either catching two hours of sleep or going to the gym at the hotel today and I figured I'd do a quick 15-20 minutes and at least get something under my belt.

Well, as is often the case I did much more then I expected because I felt so good 20 minutes in. Now, I only walked because I've been feeling a little soar (traveling does that to me for some reason), but I impressed myself with 60 minutes of walking for 3.4 miles and 426 calories.

That's the big lesson for me: JUST START.

If you get off the treadmill or bike after 10-20 minute because you're not into it that's fine, but at least get on for 10-20 minute and see how you feel. I can't think of one time that i started a workout that I didn't do more than I thought I would.

So, I have a new rule: 10 minutes no matter what.

I'll do 10 minutes no matter how busy or tired I am. If I can't do more fine, but I suspect I'll always do at least a little more. I'm back in LA tomorrow after a very productive trip and that should help my progress a lot.

I'm still beatup from the HIIT workout Sunday. In fact, I'm hurting more today than I did yesterday.... so, I'll just warn everyone once more to be careful with this high-intensity stuff. I think you need about 30-40 walks/runs under your belt if you're gonna do this kind of thing. Of course, you could also do it a little less intense I guess. Either way you should probably talk to a trainer/doctor about your workouts if you don't want to hurt yourself--not me. I just a dude talking about what I'm doing. This blog isn't a health plan that you should follow... this is one dude talking about his life. Be smart about your health and your body.

OK, enough disclaimers.... I'm 191.6 today and the month is coming to a close. I didn't make it under 190, but I look a lot different in the mirror. I'm fairly certain that the 18 workouts I've done this month have built some muscle, burned some fat, and changed my body. It's also helped my mind. When I was 207 I would hurt for days after even a simple treadmill workout. If I get on the treadmill today it will be eight days in a row--and three of those days were hardcore workouts.

Working out in the AM is a my big secret at this point. If you get it overwith in the AM you've got a much be chance of actually working out. As the day goes on you get busy, you get tired, and you say "screw it, I'll workout tomorrow." If you start your day with a workout you're gonna burn more calories all day (right?), feel more energy, and sleep better at night.

Here is how you do it:

a) Layout your workout clothes by your bed when you get up.
b) When you get up just put them on--don't even debate if you're gonna work out.
c) Buy a bunch of workout clothes so you are never faced with the "I've got nothing to wear" argument
d) If you're really not motivated set yourself up with some ubersimple goal. Like tell yourself that you're going to do at least 50 or 100 calories/10 minutes on the treadmill. When you hit that goal chances are you'll do more.
e) Set up small goals of consecutive days for yourself. For example,I did a bunch of 2 or 3 days in a row segments this month and I finally turned a corner last week and now I'm on day eight--in a row! If you get two days in a row try for three. After that why note five? If you don't do it no problem, now you've got another chance to get it done.
f) Go Starbucks Style: If you really can't get up for your work out walk to Starbucks--or two starbucjs away from your place if you're in a city (that's about 8 blocks :-)--and walk back. At least you'll get a mile under your belt.

So.... if you're reading this and it's 9am on the west coast and you haven't worked out let's get to work people!

Looks like the fatblogging dragnet has caught two big fish over the past two days.

First we got Hugh, and yesterday we landed uber-advertising guru Joseph Jaffe. Now, Jaffe is truly fat as you could see in CalacanisCast 11. By landing him we landed like 30 pounds of pure fat.... this is big. The more fat we land the more we can lose. :-)

What does it mean to be part of the movement? Very simple:

1. Blog your weight/thoughts about weight loss each day (you don't have to put the number in the subject line if you don't want... but I think that's fun).
2. Search for Fatbloggers daily (i.e. on Technorati or Google Blog Search)
3. Link to and comment on blog posts by other fatbloggers. Share your ups, downs, and tips.

Basically it's an online support and education group. I've learned so much from the tips in my comments, and by searching for the fatblogging tag/keyword. I've started using the Polar heart monitor and the BMI scale thanks to comments, and I've jumped into the whole walking vs. running debate.

As everyone knows I've been bitching on this blog about the fact that I used to be thin and now I'm fat. Well, I took the major step this week and brought a treadmill into Casa Calacanis and man is it making a difference. There is something about rolling out of bed and walking 30 feet to your treadmill--as opposed to driving 15 minutes to your gym--that is just amazing. I've been on thing three days in a row, and it's just a great way to start your day.

We're gonna attach one our old 24" Dell 2405 monitors to this thing and put a keyboard and trackball on it so I can watch Law & Order, do email, and surf the web while getting not-fat.

I tipped the scales at 207 (back when we were closing the AOL/WIN deal and I couldn't leave my desk), and I'm down to 192 these days. My goal is to be ~180 before the summer. Four or five months, 2-3 pounds a month... that sounds really doable right?!

In terms of diet I've cut out the bad carbs (bread, flour, pasta, etc), and I've been eating a ton of fish and vegetables. Feels great so far.

Update: Sean Bonner told me Joi Ito (I think we're around the same age) has been working on his health too. He's doing a vegan diet and has lost a lot of weight and feels better too. He's doing the every other day for an hour exercise program. I think I want to try to do six days a week for 45 minutes instead--I really like to work out. One of the great things about blogging is that folks are sharing their personal life and what their learning. Joi is staying away from rice and pasta, and eating a lot vegetables too. Those two things seem to be the easiest things to do if you want to get in shape.