In Chinese philosophy, the concept of yin-yang is used to describe how opposite or contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world; and, how they give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another. Many natural dualities (such as light and dark, high and low, hot and cold, fire and water, life and death, and so on) are thought of as physical manifestations of the yin-yang concept. — Wikipedia
One natural duality greatly overlooked by Chinese philosophy is the diet’s twin and simultaneous attributes of success and failure. I am one week into Attempt #113 and I’m happy to say I have achieved success. I’ve managed to cap my daily caloric intake between 1500 and 2100 (weekends don’t count, of course). And (at one point, at least) I was down two pounds.
I’m also tired a lot, but we’ll discuss that at some other point.
It would be nice if the story stopped there. However, this seeming dietary success is laced with hidden failure. To demonstrate, I present my caloric intake charts, grouped by quarter days.
Simplified, here are the caloric averages:
Clearly, the only way to true dietary success is to sleep from six o’clock in the evening until six o’clock the next morning. Which, now that I think about it, isn’t a bad plan at all.
on March 18, 2014 at 7:27 am
The charts are amazing – if I didn’t speak English I think I’d still be here just for the wonderful wonderful charts.
Let me know if that 12 hours in bed routine works. I’m willing to try almost anything myownself in the Name of Science!
on March 19, 2014 at 6:29 am
Ironically, I am sleeping a bit more than usual the last couple weeks (as it going to bed at a more reasonable hour and not automatically waking up at 6am every day). It hasn’t helped with the above issue, obviously. :-/
on March 18, 2014 at 7:53 am
Yep, that’s my problem of late – especially the nights I work at the restaurant – I get home and eat at 1:00 a.m., have a glass of wine and go straight to bed. Gah!
I love you Charlie! 😀 And your charts.
on March 19, 2014 at 6:30 am
On the upside, I’m still basically maintaining my weight. On the downside, I can’t for the life of me seem to get back to where I so easily landed during most of 2013.