I still tend to like faster weight-loss as well as I am now a desk jockey at work. The truth is I strive to work out as planned but I do not always achieve those results.

For instance the company I work for just announced 12,000 people are being laid off. I am in a fair position as I have technical and academic certifications – degrees but I am now studying for a MCTS (windows 2008) test in mid-December (additional layoff insurance/transition strategy).

I may not get to working out much until after I take the test and can still control diet. My wife and I are on track again and she has found some wonderful tasting veggie burgers that satisfy our pallets (making it easy to stay the course)!

I find if I eat the 1500 – 1800 kcals a day and do not end up exercising much – I can still lose a pound a week. If I am able to do the exercise (no injuries – time to workout) I can lose a couple of pounds a week).

It is true if I increased my exercise level consistently I would have to increase the calorie consumption (so as to not starve my muscles and achieve the maximum results) but so far I have not been too consistent. One week will go well and the next one I get bogged down with minimal exercise.

I am hoping that next year will be better as I have ordered a Schwinn mountain bike (http://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/Products/Mountain-Bikes/Details/1232-S9FROGSD-Frontier-GSD) and plan to use it!

It sounds like you have a very good plan for the pre-new year, and I’m glad that you’re blogging about this because folks need to see that we’re not robots and losing fat IS affected by what happens around us. There’s no falling off the wagon or needing to get back on track; it’s all about your perspective. Yes, you’ve re-gained some of your lost weight, BUT you now know exactly what NOT to do when you are trying to lose fat. So, accentuate the positives, learn from this situation, and move on! Quick question, is there any reason why you are following a low-fat diet? Also, why are you choosing to eat between 1500-1800 kcals a day? For the size you are right now, and the amount of training you’re going to do, I’d suggest that you consume between 2300-2400 calories a day, and you will lose weight and have energy to get through your training. Let me know what you think …