I really want this weight loss thing to be simple.
Calories out exceed calories in, and you get weight loss.
Add cardio, and you get more calories out = good.
Add strength training, and you get better muscle tone and better metabolism = good.
Why, oh why, can't it be that simple?
I don't want the surgery.
And I don't want weight loss to be the entire focus of my life.
Isn't there a third alternative?
The more I read, the more I see and learn about struggles that are entirely unrelated to these core concepts. About how running for weight loss is not effective. About how you need to eat back the calories you expend training. About how it's not calories, but the macro or micro nutrients of these calories that is important.
I'm frustrated and exhausted because I know once school starts again, I just can't pay as much attention to all this. I desperately want it to be as simple as eating unprocessed as much as possible, eating relatively low-calorie foods, and getting some exercise regularly.
I just don't want to lose everything I've worked so hard for these past six weeks or so when school starts again, and I'm panicking a bit.
(Please don't think I'm criticizing anyone for posting these things. They have all been done in a wonderfully supportive manner, and have been in response to what people have needed to know at critical times in their journey. In short, the site is working effectively, and the supportive, helpful atmosphere is exactly what it needs to be. I'm just facing my own personal crisis, and this is how I'm reacting to it. In other words, it's not you. It's definitely, unquestionably me.)