The canine and I are on weight-reduction plan. For me, it’s the story of my life.
For the canine it’s a complete new world, or quite half a world, as a result of her parts have been minimize.
She is a whippet, a smaller cousin of the greyhound, so is by nature a thin creature, streamlined, constructed for pace. Or was.
Once, I might put my arms round her waist. Now, I would like one other hand.
My whippet has turn into a whippopotamus.
When we adopted her she was already fully-grown, weighing a wholesome 14.5kg. When she hit 16.5kg, the vet mentioned she mustn’t placed on one other gram.
Alas, she did. She placed on 2 000 of them.
Like many people, her issues started with a bout of disappointment as a result of her greatest buddy died, then ageing, then lockdown occurred, after which I went away to see my household for six weeks and the canine began consolation consuming.
Apparently she made puppy-dog eyes at Himself and was selecting at her meals – by which I imply she wasn’t consuming sufficient to please him – so he cooked her twice-daily meals of hen and rice.
She discovered an urge for food for that alright, after which extra of the identical. In addition, her walks received shorter as a result of Himself was run ragged, so a 15-minute trot across the park grew to become the norm.
When I arrived residence she had developed cleavage, and weighed 18.5kg.
So now Juno and I are weight-reduction plan, with balanced meals and smaller parts, whereas the little treats we felt we earned have stopped, and (for me) there’s no alcohol on weekdays.
We go for lengthy walks collectively once more. It’s been three months. So how a lot has the pricey little whippopotamus misplaced?
An entire… 200g. Me? One silly kilogram.
And this, my buddies, is conclusive proof that the throwaway weight-loss recommendation so glibly handed out to “eat much less, train extra” is simplistic nonsense.
Yes, I would lie, I would cheat, however I do know my canine’s not dishonest as a result of she has no opposable thumbs: she can not open deal with cabinet doorways.
Weight loss is an extended, exhausting slog – canine or human – with messy metabolisms and altered circumstances and genetics and ageing and hormones at play.
Also, some our bodies are naturally inclined to retailer extra baggage in case of emergencies.
Ask me. Ask my canine.
