Data Driven
I got on a scale some time last year and realized that I weighed more than I ever thought I would. Having grown up on the skinnier side of skinny, seeing 209lbs (94.8kg or 14.9 stone for you folks in Europe) on the scale shakes you up [UPDATE: I am now down to 197lbs! Woot!]. When I saw that, I had two thoughts, both obvious. The second one was: "How did this happen? When did it happen?" Then I did what any rational person would do, I started to work out and eat less and obsess about my weight in my typically half-assed way. Along the way, I started to wonder why I couldn't see any change. I began to wonder how I could keep track of my progress.
I've always kept track of things, but lately it's been very important. Even before my weight, I tracked my gas mileage, my spending (sometimes), I tracked all sorts of garbage. Then I came to understand the role that statistics play in the universe and I was hooked - and ashamed. After all, I might be the only person crazy enough to try this.
But I wasn't. It turns out, there are a great many people who share this habit. I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised. After all, there are far more obsessive people than myself ... and I have to say, I admire them. After all, they are systematic, they are methodical, and they are trying to improve themselves or at least observe the truth of the world, and who can begrudge them that?
Comments
I track almost everything in an Excel spreadsheet and I'm not ashamed!
Posted by: Saima | May 13, 2010 8:56 AM
That, Saima, is because you are a Special Lady who will not be bound by Convention. Good on ya!
Posted by: Lo Fat Mo | May 13, 2010 10:44 AM
I'm also guilty:
http://lpgreen.livejournal.com/55753.html
Posted by: Les | May 16, 2010 10:55 AM
Dude, I do the exact same thing ... I need to plot and display toot sweet!
Posted by: Lo Fat Mo | May 16, 2010 9:21 PM
This Old Spice campaign(http://www.wk.com/campaign/questions) is just rick-rollin' the internets right now. You're being impressively humble about the whole thing, since it's pretty obvious that it is based on you. Too bad they went with an actor that more visually represented your ideal weight to play you.
It's just as well, getting mobbed to sign autographs would get old after a while.
Posted by: Les | July 19, 2010 8:04 AM
You got me! The Old Spice people came to me and said, "Man, you kick some insane game! Can we use your persona to hock our wares?" Who was I to say no? Plus I was following in the footsteps of the great Bruce Campbell - pretty good eh? As for my weight, I'll let that slide since you haven't seen the slimmer new me :)
Posted by: Lo Fat Mo | July 19, 2010 9:58 AM