Life changes after successful weight loss: Double benefits in terms of both economy and environmental protection.

The Destination: Landing on the Moon — Weight Loss is the Ultimate Investing

Anyone can successfully lose weight, no matter the method; the difficulty lies in maintaining it. However, a record-keeping approach to weight loss can overcome this hurdle.

The moon is a world where gravity is only 1/6 that of Earth. Now, I have arrived in such a dream world.

For nearly 40 years, I've been significantly overweight, and for the first time, I'm experiencing what it feels like to have a weight and size similar to that of an average person.

Since starting my weight loss journey, my weight has gradually decreased from 98 catties in my early 30s, to 93 kg in my 20s, back to my youthful weight, and finally even to 88 kg in college and 78 kg in high school.

This feeling is like escaping Earth's gravitational field and finally landing on the moon.

Looking up, I can see Earth floating in the air. In that world, every movement I make feels like six times the normal gravity.

Looking back now, a year ago when I was quite overweight, everything felt incredibly burdensome – walking, taking the train, crossing the street, eating, even sleeping, showering, and using the toilet.

Now, having shed those burdens, it's like Sun Wukong shedding his heavy robes – naturally, I feel incredibly light.

It's not just my body that's become lighter; first and foremost, my food expenses have decreased.

First, there were the snacks and treats I used to buy every day. Back then, I'd go to the nearby convenience store every two days and buy three bottles of cola, three bottles of juice, and two bottles of coffee milk – a total of eight drinks, which I consumed four a day. That meant I spent 500 yen a day on drinks alone.

Snacks and treats like sandwiches, hamburgers, rice crackers, pastry bread, potato chips, chocolate, and ice cream cost at least 500 yen a day, and with drinks, that brought my daily expenses to 1000 yen. That adds up to 365,000 yen a year.

Even the manager of the convenience store near my house said, "I think it's only natural that Mr. Okada lost weight." I've been a customer of the same convenience store for almost 10 years, so the staff there obviously know my behavior patterns better than I do myself.

"I talked to the part-time employee about you, about how you managed to lose so much weight. Actually, it's only natural that you lost weight, because in the past few months, Mr. Okada's food purchases have completely changed. For the previous 10 years, I saw you come in to buy groceries every day, so what I'm saying isn't wrong."

Just by observing customers at convenience stores, you'll notice that thinner people buy groceries that fit their body type, while overweight people tend to buy foods that are easily fattening.

"Mr. Okada used to always start at the bento or sandwich aisle, putting what he wanted in his shopping basket. Then he'd go to the snacks, drinks, and bread shelves, spend 30 minutes reading magazines, and finally head to the ice cream section. If he saw something he liked, he'd buy it; if not, he'd grab a soft-serve ice cream at the checkout to eat on his way home. That's the golden routine!"

I was stunned. That's how you gain weight! Indeed, I spend 1000 yen a day at convenience stores.

"I know Mr. Okada is on a diet because I've seen you start buying calorie-free drinks like Diet Coke or Diet Sprite, and healthy diet foods like SOYJOY and smoked chicken. Instead of bento or sandwiches, you buy boiled eggs, various vegetables, salads, etc."

Ah, this is the rising and cruising phase! During this period, daily food spending has decreased by 300-500 yen.

Now I only go to this convenience store to buy magazines, daily necessities, and bottled water. I'm really sorry I didn't help their sales; I'll try to buy more things in the future, please forgive me.

Needless to say, my spending on eating out has also decreased. I still try new restaurants as soon as they open, that's still the same, but I order less food.

Before, I wanted to eat everything and would order a lot. Even though I thought it was okay to leave some if I couldn't finish, I always felt it was wasteful and ended up eating it all.

Later, I started ordering more selectively. This way, I can't try all my favorite dishes in one or two visits. This way, I can still enjoy the food while reducing expenses. Specifically, the bill on my credit card used specifically for restaurant meals has decreased by more than half.

At my usual restaurants, the waiters and managers have noticed how thin I've become and ask me how I managed to lose weight. After all, weight loss is a popular topic everywhere. After I explained, they seemed to agree that it was reasonable. Even if I ordered very little food, or had leftovers, I wouldn't face strange looks anymore, which made me feel much more at ease.

I also eat less at home. Cooking at home makes it easier to control portion sizes. I can buy less groceries and divide the food into two and a half portions. I eat half, and the other half goes in the fridge and can be eaten again in two or three days. Regularly emptying the fridge makes me feel good.

Overall, my spending on food and groceries is now half of what it used to be, and the fridge isn't as crammed full. I guess I'm contributing to environmental protection.

Speaking of environmental protection, it reminds me of how many people were shocked when they heard I cut my hamburger in half and throw away the unwanted portion. Some said, "That's so wasteful!" Others said, "Many children in developing countries don't even have enough to eat!"

I understand that. I also feel it's wasteful and I feel guilty.

But is eating it the only option?

Even if you don't throw away the remaining half of the hamburger, you can't give it to children in developing countries. And you can't give them the potato chips either.