My guess is when most people find themselves writing “Day 7000” they’re only doing it to exaggerate. It’s not actually the seven thousandth day of their diet, just as they don’t actually weigh seven thousand pounds (even if that’s what they like to tell people).
But I’m not most people. Today really is Day Seven Thousand for me.
No joke.
If you’ve been around this blog a while and/or read that wonderful book which you see over on the side, you know two things about me:
- I’ve been at this a while
- I like to weigh myself. A lot.
I wouldn’t go all the way to obsession. (More like compulsion, perhaps?) Either way, it’s just what I do. It’s not a good thing; it’s not a bad thing; it just is.
So bright and early this morning, I hop out of bed, weigh in, open up the spreadsheet, and type in the numbers. And there it is. Day 7000:
The astute reader will notice two things:
- Yes, I still use Excel ’95
- I don’t weigh myself every day
There are only 4373 entries, which means, on average, I only weigh myself about 62% of the time. However, that number is a bit skewed since there were long stretches early on where I didn’t weigh in at all. (For example, there are only 48 rows for all of 1990.)
But I digress.
You see, the fact that it’s Day Seven Thousand isn’t nearly as interesting as this next little tidbit. Ready? For kicks, and in honor of this momentous occassion, I thought I’d take a peek at Day One again. You know, the Day One. The First One Ever. Here’s what I saw:
See anything odd?
Check out my weight.
Day One: 194.0
Day Seven Thousand: 194.5
Never mind the fact that I hit 168.0 on September 8, 1991 (yes, you read that right). Never mind the fact that I hit 239.0 on January 2, 1997 (you also read that right). The net result of this extraordinarily painful exercise over the course of 19.165 years is: a half pound gain.
Oh well. At least it gave me something to talk about. 🙂
on June 29, 2009 at 9:32 am
You should be proud. Gaining only half a pound in 19 years is not bad at all.
on June 29, 2009 at 10:27 am
Wow. I stand in awe that you have done this for 7000 days – and looking at day one, you’ve done an excellent job at maintaining your weight!
on June 29, 2009 at 11:32 am
Oh my goodness Charlie!! That is too crazy – 1/2 a pound!
Tony and I are starting South Beach today – his doctor recommended it for him so I decided to do it with him.
Happy Monday Chowlee!
on June 29, 2009 at 11:51 am
Here’s the really weird part. After I posted this, I went upstairs to take a shower and for fun got on the scale again.
It came up (drumroll please): 194.0.
on March 7, 2014 at 9:13 am
I forgot about this post Charlie – so crazy!! I love you!
on June 29, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Congrats on your 0 lb gain overall during 19 years. 🙂 And 7000 days, that’s amazing…
on June 29, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Well, “amazing” is one word for it. “Sad” is another. 😉
on June 29, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that the average human GAINS 2 pounds a year, so good for you!
on June 29, 2009 at 3:47 pm
“it’s just what I do. It’s not a good thing; it’s not a bad thing; it just is.”
I’m the same way. (and yes. Had to restrain myself from a spelling pun).
on June 30, 2009 at 1:08 pm
If only there no fluctuations inbetween, that would be great!!
on June 30, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Not sure what to say. I’ve been watching, questioning, lamenting, etc. what goes into my mouth since I was 14. I’m now 47. Not doing the math, I think that’s close to 7000 days. When does this end?????
on June 30, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Isn’t it funny how it seems we’re constantly on a diet but make very little progress?!? But maintaining is a great thing in itself isn’t it?
on June 30, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Just think, Charlie, if you had consumed 1 less calorie per day over the past 7000 days you would weigh about 2 pounds less than you do right now!! Amazing! I remember back around 1981 you used to keep a daily diary in your basement. I bet you have all those journals? Don’t you? How many trips to the FunZone were chronicled for posterity. Obsessive? Nah, maybe a little compulsive. 🙂
on July 5, 2009 at 3:14 am
I like how detailed your tracking is. It may be the same but you look like you’ve had your highs and your lows and you’re still learning, like the rest of us are.
on July 9, 2009 at 12:14 pm
7000 days. Holy Moly. That’s incredible. I don’t think I’ve ever done ANYthing consecutively for that long. Way to go (I think). 🙂
on July 12, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Regardless of the number, the fact that you have stayed on this journey for 7000 days is sooooo awesome! I am so inspired! Way to go! I myslef have gained and lost the same 60 lbs OVER AND OVER and I just posted a little rant on my site about not giving up. 🙂
– Lisa
http://www.losewithlisa.blogspot.com
on January 15, 2010 at 10:40 am
[…] this post? Hard to believe that was 200 days ago. Hard to believe I was safely in Onederland at that point. […]
on December 19, 2014 at 3:40 pm
2 pounds would have been 7000 calories. You really missed the banana float on this one.
on January 19, 2015 at 12:22 am
[…] It seems like it’s only been two weeks since I wrote this post about Rachel, or this post about Sarah, or even this post about Day 7000. […]