Re: SusanB's question about struggling in the face of agonizingly slow results. YUP. For more than a year now.
I used to go on crash diets anytime I went over whatever crazy low number I had in my mind as my high weight (um, embarrassed to admit this but I'm talking about a high weight ever of 133). I could drop up to 20 lbs in a few weeks, depending on how extreme was my calorie restriction.
Fast-forward to my mid-30s, when I was SLAMMED with a dramatic metabolism shift that occurred within a couple of months. Probably I contributed to it with my previous "diets"... My weight has a new set point that keeps rising and rising and my body is a completely different shape (belly fat) ... So yeah, I've had to come up with some strategies to keep from completely going bonkers in this process of trying to get to a -- potentially unattainable -- weight goal (I'm still ~2 lbs above where I was in December 2008).
It's definitely not just about the number on the scale any more! It's so much more now, about being healthy overall. Sometimes I even delete my weight loss ticker I focus on fitness goals and on the abundance of food -- tracking fiber, protein, nutrients, servings of veggies and fruits -- rather than deprivation. And I started a blog so I can vent! As well as over-think it all to death...
Back to the microcosm. Right now I'm struggling with binge-y behavior late night. My wonderful family has cake and pretzels and chips, etc in the house and I find myself grazing through all of it. I've kept track of everything and I haven't exceeded my ~1400 cal/day but STILL. It's keeping me from eating more nutritious things and just really frustrating that I can't JUST SAY NO to all of it. I finally had my hubby hide the cake last night
So my diet is the "SuperFoods + carby crap" diet. Ha! I'm thinking I have to go back to my 100% no white flour/sugar/fried foods rule.
Hi all. I've definitely hit a bad patch - not terrible but not great. If I've lost anything at all this week I'll be pleased. It's one day on, one day off for me at the moment which is rubbish especially as I'm going on holiday on Sunday.
I got nuthin new. My "dig in my heels plan for working evening shift" worked for one shift but not the next. Hmmm ... Guess I'll have to try that again.
Sadly, even at my age and level of 'experience' with this stuff, I know I'd lose faster if I ate next to nothing and slept a lot. The lure of unhealthy, but fast results is a frightening thing. What do you think feathers? The thrill of that initial whoosh is gone. Nobody is noticing our loses any more. Gone are the days of 2-3 pound weeks. We struggle to find gratification in the pants'o'meter or the measuring tape.
Yes, the thrill is gone. Yes the weight loss is gettting SLOW! Have to work extra hard for each and every lb, and it's often 1 step forward, 2 steps back (especially when I indulge on special occasions) Yes the compliments have kinda gone away (except for those I haven't seen in awhile). But I'm still motivated. I don't want to go back to the way I was! I am so much healthier! I keep telling myself, I've got time. Rome wasn't built in a day. It's okay if it takes me a LONG time to get to goal. I keep telling myself that.....but honestly I want to try being in maintenance!!!!! LOL.
I wouldn't exactly say losing weight was easy, but I'll tell ya......losing the first 60 lbs has been easier than these last 15-20! It was faster, more noticable to others. More dramatic. It was easier in a lot of ways.
And now, I feel so much better about myself. It's so tempting to say this is "good enough". But maybe just for mere principle, I want to reach my goal. I want to achieve this. Even if it takes longer than I hoped it would. I want to reach it, just to be able to say that I did! And I believe I can do it.
Today I saw an old picture of myself from one of my highest weights. I was a bridesmaid in a wedding. Wow, it was an awful picture of me. It is almost unbelievable, compared to how I look now. That was an eye opener, and something I think I needed to see today. I need to acknowledge the person that I was, just so I never go back to that place. It was not a happy place. This is so much better.
So, Susan, I just want to tell you, you can do this! Don't take any "easy way out", because you deserve better than that! You deserve to be healthy, to do it the right way. And you can do it!!!!!!
Susan, I'm right there with you. I am finding this "stage" difficult to stay consistently motivated. Last year I lost the weight because I had two weddings to attend and I wanted the wow factor in my dresses. I feel like I stay OP for a few days, then I have a few bad days, then I'll get back on plan, etc. So here I sit basically up and down 2-3 pounds for the past few months. I'm not ready for maintenance yet.
Ok, so I'm giving myself the push and I am going to be more committed. We can help each other through this. Let's move forward ladies!
Back to the microcosm. Right now I'm struggling with binge-y behavior late night. My wonderful family has cake and pretzels and chips, etc in the house and I find myself grazing through all of it. I've kept track of everything and I haven't exceeded my ~1400 cal/day but STILL. It's keeping me from eating more nutritious things and just really frustrating that I can't JUST SAY NO to all of it. I finally had my hubby hide the cake last night
So my diet is the "SuperFoods + carby crap" diet. Ha! I'm thinking I have to go back to my 100% no white flour/sugar/fried foods rule.
In reading this, I have to tell you, this is me!!!!!! I graze on my kids Cheez-Its, goldfish crackers and cookies a little too often. And it's always after they get off of school or at night time. I'm trying to drink warm decaffeinated fruit teas to prevent me from overeating at these times, but it happens. I agree about the nutrition factor. I'd be doing myself a bigger favor by eating something my body could actually use!
Thanks gals. I'm going to have to put some thought into fitness goals I guess. I've fiddled with weights and cardio for years but have never done anything that I can track progress ... ya know?
Hmmm ... I'll have to think on that.
It might be time for measuring again.
Emma D: mid-thirties with a dramatic slow-down in your metabolism, coupled with belly fat? That's me! And now, even though I eat so consciously and carefully, dropping even one pound seems impossible! I hate to think what I'd look like now if I ate like I used to (fast food, fried food, etc.)
I mostly concentrate on how my body looks now, and try not to think about the scale too much (even if I don't succeed all the time.) I want a "muffin-top" reduction which will hopefully eventually turn into an obliteration. It might be difficult to get there, but it's definately impossible if I don't try! Btw I might have unintentionally stolen that quote from someone. I don't remember where I've heard it before, but it's always stayed with me.
This board always seems kinda quiet on the weekend. I have a busy weekend, but I am staying on track. I'm going out to dinner both tonight and tomorrow night for different celebrations, but I have already picked out what I'm ordering and they are both healthy choices. I am going to the movies with my family to see "The Tooth Fairy", but there will be no popcorn for me!
I've been entertaining thoughts of signing up to run a 5K in April. I walk frequently, usually between 4-5 miles, but running is a different story. I can currently run about a mile before I feel like walking. But I'm thinking of doing this with a friend, and I'm hoping it will help me reach my final goal by late spring/early summer. I haven't signed up yet, but I'm thinking about it!
Much as I try to not pay attention to what the scale says, I was still happy to see my low weight for 2010 - 146.8. Still above what I was before the holiday free-for-all began in November, but hey I'll take what I can get at this point!
I took my measurements yesterday. NOTHING has changed from 6 months ago. grrrrr. But I swear that I look different, more toned. I'll take new photos soon to see if I can see a difference.
Still trying to figure out what to tweak... I've been doing fine calorically but not so great nutritionally... I've been exercising more regularly than I ever have in my life. But I didn't make my hour/day goal for January. Oh well, it's a year-long goal. I figure the warmer months will inspire long hikes.
I've decided go back to eating with South Beach principles, so I joined a SB challenge that goes until April 4. Hopefully that will get my eating back on track. It seems I need an ironclad rule of no "white stuff" and veggie consumption minimums. Probably I will still count my calories though. I'm hooked on that!
kellost - I don't remember if you did Couch to 5K or not. If not, you have the perfect amount of time before your race - 9 weeks. I have started regularly doing 5K at a time, with a mixture of fast and slow jogging and walking. I am using the C25K intervals to try to increase my running speed. Right now I'm around 43 minutes for a jog/walk 5K!
Kellost, you can definitely do that 5k, go for it try the c25k and you're on your way....
Emma, on the scale loss ...
Susan, I am so so so so so SO tired of watching what I eat, you can't imagine ... but I still plug away ... Oh well c'est la vie !
I made a wonderful soup today from a magazine. Veal and white bean soup... It's quite yummy... having a healthy supper tonight chicken, a new green bean recipe and roasted cauliflower...
Hi everybody! My son and his gf got engaged yesterday so we had a pretty happy day here. Everyone was here for a nice pork tenderloin supper. After my grand-daughter (18 months) got fidgetty she sat on my lap and we shared a nice ww dinner roll. What a nice way to end a meal! And a great way to keep my hands too busy for seconds
Now that everybody has gone home or out for the evening, I should get on the elliptical. Ah! Life is good!
Ilene - oh yes I can imagine it. I think it all the time.
I've had a bit of a whoosh this week. My scale actually showed 154 - down 2.6 - but I've put my ticker to 155 as I wasn't very well on Friday night (upset tummy, I leave it there) and despite downing a few pints of water before bed I think some of the loss was due to that.
Well my fellow Feathers, I'm off for a week now. I'm going on holiday and I'll do my level best not to gain 5-7lbs as I typically do on holiday. it's been an interesting month for me. I've always been an "all or nothing" thinker, blowing my entire plan if I've gone off it unplanned. This month I've wandered off plan, unscheduled, 8 times and I've still lost 6 lbs. Although I wouldn't expect that to happen every month it does indicate that I need to obtain a sense of proportion about my bad days.
I have just discovered this site, so this is a test post to see if it turns up in the right place. I keep losing and gaining the same 20 pounds - but
this time I am going to focus on healthy eating and exercise.
I focus on fitness goals and on the abundance of food -- tracking fiber, protein, nutrients, servings of veggies and fruits -- rather than deprivation. And I started a blog so I can vent! As well as over-think it all to death...
try the c25k and you're on your way....
on the scale loss ...
... but I still plug away ... Oh well c'est la vie !
