ABOUT ME

As a young buck I was fairly fit.  I could eat anything, but my metabolism was extremely high. I burned off everything I ate. Then I got married, and we had a child. With our first child I gained weight right along with my wife. I would do midnight taco runs with her to help satisfy her cravings and I would eat right along with her. Then I got a desk job. Then we had our second child. Then I started telecommuting from home. With each additional change to my life I gained about 20 pounds. I peaked at 270 pounds. So, I started yo yo dieting. I’d lose some weight and then gain it back again. This year I turn 40 and thought something has got to give. I am out of control. I have to make a change that is permanent. I thought to myself how can I do that. I’ve done the calorie counting thing, but just struggled at keeping track of the daily seemingly hourly counting. And as far as dieting I didn't want to sacrifice eating the foods I like. I thought to myself, what is my biggest down fall and how can I fix it. For me, it was overeating.  I love food and I love it in large quantities.  As I’ve heard it called before, I had portion distortion.

There are days when I would stuff my gut to where I could barely breath, and it felt great. Sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night and have easily 5 bowls of cereal. On more than one occasion I have even eaten a whole box in one sitting.   I was out of control and so I thought, what can be done, how can I wrangle this in? And that’s when I came up with the OneBowlChallenge. I was so excited about the idea that I texted my family on 6/12/2019 to see if they would join me, and if not, if they would at least help keep me on track. For I knew that when setting goals it helps to have an accountability system. So, I started.

So what is the challenge, and how does it work?  It's quite simple.  First I picked a bowl that I felt was suitable to my size and what I felt would be a sufficient amount of food for me to eat at each meal.   Something that wasn’t too small to where I was starving myself and something not too large that it didn’t challenge me or make a difference. I had to pick a bowl that was just right. . . reminds me of a fairy tale. So now that I picked out my bowl the challenge is to only eat an amount of food that can fit in my bowl.  That means no snacking afterward or having a 2nd or 3rd dinner. And no boxes of cereal at night.  Once I have placed the correct portions in my bowl I take a photo of it and post it online.  This is an extremely important part of the challenge.  By posting online I can see and keep track of what I have eaten.  Also, by joining a group you can have additional support while making 1Bowl a lifestyle change. With smart phones taking a photo and posting online is so quick and easy. For me, it is a lot easier than trying to track my calories.  If you want to take the challenge I recommend creating a generic Instagram, Twitter or Facebook account to post to. I've added hyperlinks to my own posts that you can view to see an example of how it works and my own progress with the challenge. Your account could be OneBowlChallengeXXXX and then your name in place of XXXX.  With your first post I recommend to do a starting weight and photo of yourself. In my 3rd post I made some personal rules that are as follows: 1. Weigh in once a week 2. Take daily photo of side and front selfie (I only did this because I figured I'm the fore runner of the Challenge and that I would need the photos to show my progress. I recommend to do a photo of yourself at key dates, such as 1st, 30th, 60th etc). 3. Take a photo of each bowl/meal. If you complete the challenge for those key date you can be added to the Challenge Board. For additional information regarding the challenge board click here.

In a nutshell the idea is that by limiting my portions I am decreasing calories. The perhaps oversimplified formula for any weight loss or gain is consume less than you burn = weight loss.  On the flip side consume more than you burn = gain weight.  Now, I know there are other factors involved, but that is the formula in a simplified version. So for me, the OneBowlChallenge will help me moderate or control my portions. In theory, as long as I am eating a fairly well balanced diet, meaning fruits, vegetables, protein and  carbohydrates, as long as my overall average of calorie intake over time is less than what I burn, then I should lose weight. With the OneBowlChallenge I’m not worrying about counting calories, I’m not worrying about eating what I want (meaning I'm not on a fad diet that is limiting a specific type of foo). I’m just worrying about my portions. If I want desert, I eat it. But, I make sure that it fits in my bowl. Now for those macro nutrient dietitians and gurus out there, sure you have to be careful with what you eat. I know a girl who would drink a soda and eat a candy bar for all her meals. Sure, she was skinny, but at the same time she was horribly unhealthy.   With the OneBowlChallenge a person needs to apply everything they know about good nutrition and still follow it to be healthy. That is were posting online of what you eat can help. It gives you an accounting of what you are eating. With the short amount of time I’ve been doing the challenge I’m amazed at how I have had a desire to add something slightly healthier to my meal, just because I knew it would be out there for the world to see. Also, lets say a person started the challenge, but wasn’t getting the results they wanted. They could easily consult with a trained professional or dietician to help them out.

With onebowlchallenge.com we can hook you up with a group that will help encourage you to continue the challenge. Or you can create your own group.  The first person I saw who actually posted didn't last very long. When I saw what she was eating, I could understand why.   In my opinion her portions (bowl) was way too small. I don't think anyone would be able to maintain a healthy diet based on the portions she had picked for herself.  Again, that is the importance of posting online. Other people can help give you suggestions and recommendations.  For this particular person I recommended that she increase the size of her bowl, because the one she picked was unrealistic.  She needed to pick one where she wasn't starving herself, but that still made a difference in her eating habits. Quick disclaimer. I am not a trained professional. I recommend that if you start making changes to your diet that you consult with a doctor or other trained health professional.  Now, having that said, I know a lot of people could benefit from the OneBowlChallenge.

Unfortunately this website isn't touting a magical pill that makes you look like thor with no work involved. Quite contrary.  This is pure work, dedication and perseverance. I’m telling you right now, the challenge isn't easy. I have taught my body over the course of many many years that I’m not full until I have expanded my gut to a ridiculous amount. Our society teaches us and encourages us to over eat. I’m done with over eating and now I’m teaching myself how to eat proper portions. I’m taking control of my body. The upside is that I get to eat what I want as long as it fits in my bowl. No fad diets, no calorie counting, just straight up portion control. Another nice thing that I’ve found with the challenge is that once I’ve selected my meal, I don’t have to worry about cheating or overeating. I just stick to my bowl. It is so simple, yet so hard.

So the OneBowlChallenge is my new method for losing weight and maintaining a healthier lifestyle.  When I came up with the challenge I shared with my family and then  thought why keep it to myself; why not share it with the world. So here I am. If you are overwight and have struggled like I have, give the OneBowlChallenge a try.

Become a 1Bowler with me. Subscribe to my newsletter by providing your e-mail on the Contact Us page.

If you're up for the challenge, submit your name, social media link and clarification if you want to join a group or create a group  via the Contact Us page and I will add you as a participant of the challenge.

Note: Participation is free. But, If you want to support the cause, you can become a member via my Patreon account.