Although I’d planned on fasting all day yesterday, the technology corporation I work for hosted a team event in which lunch was served. The food was provided by Chuy’s Tex-Mex, which is a favorite of mine, so I couldn’t resist partaking. I’d known about the event in advance but didn’t know who would be catering it until I arrived. I’d figured I could skip the meal if it wasn’t something I really liked, but it turned out to be something I really liked (although, strangely, it was underwhelming).

Flexibility is important when you’re trying to lose weight. Although you have to be disciplined about sticking to a plan, you also have to allow for the unexpected occasionally. I’m one of those people who, when I finally decide to do something, I’m a little too rigid about making exceptions to the expectations I’ve set for myself. I’ve found that this behavior is often untenable. Nobody can expect perfection; that just eventually leads to disappointment and possible abandonment of best laid plans.

Although I only ate the one time yesterday, I lost just a pound. This disappointing result is likely due to the carbohydrates in the meal. Beans and rice are not bad for you, but they do contain an enormous amount of carbohydrates, which take the body out of a state of ketosis if carbohydrates have been avoided previously. The carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, and unless that glucose is completely consumed by normal metabolic activity or exercise, ketosis won’t occur. Essentially, the body will continue burning those carbohydrates for fuel rather than burning fat.

I’ll fast on Friday, and I’m considering stretching that fast into three days of food deprivation. I’ve done this before, and, while it’s not exactly comfortable (the stomach frequently rumbles and the brain can’t stop thinking about food), it usually results in a loss of nine or ten pounds. And it’s a good way of stressing the body and varying the fasting routine. This shaking up of things tends to jump-start weight loss if a plateau has been reached or accelerate an existing downward trend.

Anyway, I’ll forgive myself for my recent dietary transgressions. As long as I keep hammering away at the goal and focus on the end result of my efforts, I’ll be satisfied no matter how jagged the journey.