Dan Nied's Fortress of Weight Loss: Day 57

WHAT I ATE TODAY
Meal 1
2 cups of corn flakes
1 ½ cups of skim milk
Calories: 320
Fat: 0 grams

Meal 2
1 footlong Subway Club
Calories: 640
Fat: 12 grams

Meal 3
1 bag of beef jerkey
Calories: 300
Fat: 2 grams

Meal 4
1 bag of pretzels
Calories: 160
Fat: 0 grams

Meal 5
2 slices of wheat bread
3 slices of turkey
Calories: 210
Fat: 6.5 grams

Total calories: 1,630
Total fat: 20.5 grams

My take: Good day.

THE REAL REASON I BROUGHT YOU HERE TODAY

Uggh.

Perhaps it is kind of funny that three straight days of work leaves me exhausted. Actually, one straight day of work leaves me exhausted, three leaves me wondering how many prescription pills it would take to knock me out for a day.

But that's ok. I can handle that, because everything else is A-OK. Though I am struggling, currently, to keep my eyes open less than an hour after I left the office.

But you don't care about that. This blog isn't called "Dan Nied's Fortress of How His Job Makes Him Tired." No, that title wouldn't even make sense.

But what might make even less sense, or perhaps it will make so much sense that it will blow your mind, is what I am about to say next.

I love negative comments.

Of course, that's not true. I actually hate them. However, I value them almost as much as the positive comments.

Every time I post a new entry on Blogcritics, I am guaranteed to have at least two or three comments. There are a handful of regular commentators, though only one that I can think of who doesn't know me through a much deeper spectrum. And I will say that most of these comments are purely positive -- especially if they come from the regulars -- and I read each one with giddy excitement.

But then there are the fairly frequent negative comments that tell me why I haven't lost more weight, why I am fucking up so much, how I am obviously not dedicated to the Fortress, and how I will likely gain back every pound I lose. Of course, sometimes people just call me crazy.

And while these comments often chip away at my psyche immediately after their readings, they also might be the most valuable ammunition I have to beat my current fatness.

Encouragement serves to strengthen your methods, and motivates you to keep doing the things that brought you the accolades. Because I know I am doing many things right in the Fortress, I accept every encouraging comment as if it is owed to me, and wonder why more people don't see my genius.

Criticism, on the other hand, makes you think twice about your methods. So when someone takes the time to tell me what I am doing wrong, I have to think about it a little longer. While it might seem that I dismiss every bit of criticism that I receive, and never enact any suggestion, that simply isn't true. In fact, I read every critical comment several times through, and either nod or shake my head at each point. I'll admit that I often find myself nodding more than shaking.

In more egotistical terms, I am a man of brilliance and bullshit (words chosen for alliterative purpose only). And while I like to be hailed for my "brilliance", I also need to be called on my bullshit from time to time.

In recent days, I have been taken to task for not working out enough, allowing too many off days, weighing in more or less than I said I would and at different times than I said I would, and basically having too little willpower to follow conventional weight-loss methods to a tee.

I can't disagree with any of that. But when people notice that, it sets off that "Oh yeah?!" trigger inside of me, and I end up rethinking my plans. However, many times I simply come to the conclusion that I am doing what is best for me right now. So maybe having "unofficial" weigh-ins on Wednesday or Thursday is total bullshit and goes against what I said I would do, but sometimes I want to know how I am doing in the middle of the week. (By the way, as of this morning, I "unofficially" weigh 274.8, "unofficially" .2 pounds less than my lowest 100 Days weight.)

Likewise, I may not have the willpower to follow conventional weight-loss means, but I see the scales and know that the boulder is rolling down the hill, so why not let it go? With that conclusion, I get the added bonus of showing people that willpower isn't necessarily the most important characteristic in the weight loss process (in fact, I believe the most important characteristic is motivation. My theory: Motivation breeds willpower. You can't have the latter without the former).

But when someone says "hey asshole, do you realize how much sodium and carbs you are taking in each day?" I always think about my intake of sodium and carbs. And if I agree that there is too much intake of either, then I make the necessary adjustment.

That's why negative comments are so valuable. They force you to assess and, if necessary, refine your approach. Without negative comments, I think I would be much further behind.

I have one regular negative commenter, and she means a lot to me. She's been there from the start, though she did take a break for a few weeks for unknown reasons. But she resurfaced on Day 55, and I am very grateful for that.

Her pseudonym is Purple Tigress, and she very well may absolutely hate my guts. But she keeps on reading, probably for the same reason I read a Dean Koontz book every once in a while. In short, she probably thinks I am a hack, but can't wait to catch the train-wreck in progress.

I never agree with everything PT has to say about me and the Fortress. But she always manages to make at least one very good point, which I gladly consider.

Yes, the positive commenters have become full-fledged parts of the Fortress, but so has PT and her spread out clan of Dan-bashers.

So I'd very much like to share with you her last comment, which even includes a few backhanded compliments:

So you DO weigh-in more than once a week, but you only have one official weekly weigh-in?

It sounds like a crass 15-year-old talking.

In response, I'd just like to say this: Yes I realize the wisdom of weighing in twice a week, I almost certainly do need a mental checkup, I am glad that weighing in every day works for you, I have dated overweight girls in the past and would consider doing so again, and maybe I do sound like a 15-year old, but I am actually 28 and I really, really, really like boobs.

Oh, and thanks.