I am definitely a yo-yo dieter and I've always wondered what makes me hit a brick wall at about 6-7 months and quit, even when I have the best of intentions, and today I believe I finally have the answer. I came across a most informative NY Times article called "The Fat Trap," http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/ma...-fat-trap.html, talking about why most people gain back the weight they've lost (and even more). For anyone who may not be completely dedicated to losing weight and keeping it off, no doubt this article will come across as an extremely discouraging article, but for anyone who is determined to lose weight and keep their weight down for the rest of their life, I believe the article contains information we need to know. Apparently when most of us lose weight, our bodies change in more ways than we realize. If we go off our diets and start gaining weight, we may think a lack of willpower is the cause, but our issue is more than just mental; it's physiological. The hormone leptin in the fat cells plays havoc with our bodies when we lose weight. It slows the effectiveness of our muscles, causing them not to burn calories as efficiently, and it changes our brains to respond to food differently, causing us to have more cravings while at the same time weakening our control against them. What researchers aren't sure of is how long these changes last. They may be permanent. It's like the body has a set point for weight and it defends that set point. (The article says the same thing happens for a thin person trying to gain weight. Their body will defend the lower weight set point.) Here is another article on WebMD that talks about leptin: http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/th...tin-faq?page=1. These changes in the body caused by leptin are why so many dieters fail, no matter what type of diet they use. However, some succeed through vigilance, so sheer willpower is involved. I'm glad to know this information. I don't want to weigh 220 lbs. And I don't want to weigh 300 lbs, but if I keep yo-yo dieting, that's where I'm headed. After all, that's how I got to 220. So I am left with one weight loss/maintenance option: I can't stop "dieting." That's quite a realization. I've always thought of dieting as a struggle and something I couldn't wait to stop. Today I learned the struggle doesn't end if you want to maintain. Maintenance is every single bit as great a struggle because your body works against you as a result of leptin. So my goal is to lose weight, at least to 170, but for the first time I'm recognizing I can't go off this diet. This diet just became a lifestyle change. Everybody involved in weight loss is aware that you need to make a lifestyle change, but has it really hit home? I thought I would do the slow carb diet until I hit 170, 145, or somewhere in between, and then I would give up my weekly cheat day and start trying to blend in more foods on a daily basis, just being careful not to go hogwild. Wrong. It's not going to work. So here's what I have to accept: The modified slow carb diet that I do is a sensible diet. It's not terribly restrictive. It's not a dangerous 500-calorie diet, it's not a liquid diet, it doesn't involve fasting, it doesn't involve questionable supplements, and with its cheat day it doesn't even completely ban any food. It's actually a good way to eat, so there's no reason why I shouldn't do it for life, and that's how I have to start thinking about it. I want to get down to a certain weight but my real goal needs to be to continue eating as I'm eating now, period. Some people would rather count calories, but I prefer slow-carbing. In any event, my "diet" really does have to be a permanent lifestyle change. Believe it or not, that is a revelation for me!
Jacqui, I'm about to go to bed but like last time I've copied your first 3 days of meals. I hope I can slide in here and get my head back into the game. I've really missed you I'll try to read more tomorrow. I sent you a PM. SOOOOOO glad you're back night night
Up only half a lb today after cheat day! Actually, I didn't get too far away from eating low carb yesterday, having had only a baked potato and a piece of candy out of the ordinary. But it was a good baked potato and piece of candy!
Week 1: High 220, Low 216
5/3--220
5/4--218
5/5--217.5
5/6--218 TOM
5/7--216
5/8--216
5/9--216 Cheat Day Week 2: High 215, Low 211.5
5/10--215
5/11--215.5
5/12--214.5
5/13--213.5
5/14--213.5
5/15--212.5
5/16--211.5 Cheat Day Week 3: High 213, Low 208
5/17--213
5/18--211
5/19--210.5
5/20--210
5/21--209.5
5/22--208.5
5/23--208 Cheat Day Week 4:
5/24--209.5
5/25--(206)
5/26--(205)
5/27--(204.5)
5/28--(204)
5/29--(203.5)
5/30--(203) Week 5:
5/31--(202.5) Cheat Day
6/1--(203)
6/2
6/3
6/4
6/5
6/6
Today's Meals: Breakfast:
2 fried eggs
2 slices of bacon
Mio water
Lunch:
Large salad with lots of veggies, ham, shredded cheese, pecans, with ranch dressing
Mio water
Snack:
Dinner:
Boston baked beans
2 hotdogs cut up in the beans
Brussel sprouts (I know! What was I thinking, eating brussel sprouts with beans?! I'm not in severe gas pain right now, but we'll see! )
Mio water
Today's Exercise:
30 minutes on the stationary bike
Hi everyone.
I have decided that I can not give up dairy completely. So, I will leave some cheese and yogurt in my plan for now. My issue is I have to have something that is portable for lunch, I can not sit down and eat a salad at work. I am still not seeing the scale move or the measurements. But I feel good.
B: Scambled eggs w/blk beans, red peppers, onion & coffee
L: Chicken roll ups with avocado, some nuts and cheese
S: Greek yogurt
D: Veggie lasagna, side salad.
Yesterday I actually did 1/4 mile walk - which for me was good plus I hand mowed part of the yard. It will come slowly. I would like to lose 50 lbs.
Chickadeee, unless you determine that the dairy causes you to have cravings or that it is the culprit for not losing weight/inches, I think keeping it is a good idea. Do what works for you! And great job on walking a 1/4 mile! Yay!
Half lb back down! I am very surprised that the half lb from yesterday came off today. When I woke up, my finger joints felt very stiff, so I thought for sure I was still holding that water. In fact, I half-expected to have gained because it's about time for me to start holding pre-TOM water weight. Well, that is IF Tom decides to visit me this month. At my age, I never know anymore, lol! So I was pleasantly surprised to be back down this morning.
Jacqui, I'm having that issue with TOM at 49. I like the months without TOM . I tried yesterday and did good until I was told I had to work somewhere else after my shift was over.
Chickadee, I hope you see some movement soon. I think I ate some of the things that weren't allowed before but I'm gonna have to go back and read our old thread.
up .8 from yesterday. I know it will be worse tomorrow, but if I stay on track it should get better
B: Scambled eggs, green salad, coffee
S: red pepper slices
L: Chicken roll ups
S: Cheese and nuts
D: Salad with chicken salad.
I have not had bad carbs or sweets for a month, and I don't crave them, but I wish I would drop a good 2 lbs, and that would give me hope. I know stick with it.
Rennie, lol! You know me so well and you know I want you healthy! Ok, no slaps on the hand but that means I am going to turn a complete blind eye to 6/1 and 6/2, and we'll just say you are starting tomorrow. Your ARE starting tomorrow, right? I'm looking forward to seeing your planned menu reported as your definite menu tomorrow! (By the same token, you know I appreciate how truthful you are!) You can do this! You will feel so much better once you break those bad carbs' hold on you! You just have to pull out the biggest, baddest, stubborn streak you possess, dig your heels in, and do it! I know you can!
Chickadeee, yay! Your menu looks very healthy! I know it's no fun to wait it out. Sometimes our bodies just do their own thing, but you really are doing great! Maybe once you get going with the exercise like you want to, it will move that scale! : Also, drink plenty of water!
Jac and Rennie, thank you guys for posting, I love that we can relate each day and something to look forward to.
Rennie, once you get past the bad carbs, believe me you will feel better, I use to binge eat everyday at 3pm - yep, once I got off work. Now, I maybe have plain yogurt with natural choc powder mixed in.
Jac, (is nickname ok) I love reading your journey. And I love you sharing your story and I love your support.
Woohoo! 202! According to Dad's scale, anyway, lol! I have my fingers crossed that my scale at home will not be too far off! I figure at most, it could only be about 3 lbs heavier. I go home tomorrow, so I'll know on Friday morning!
Today's Meals: Breakfast:
2 fried eggs
2 slices of bacon
Mio water
Lunch:
salad with lots of veggies, with ham, shredded cheese, Almonds, with ranch dressing
Mio water
Snack:
Dinner:
BBQ ribs
Sauteed summer squash and vidalia onions in butter
Mio water
Today's Exercise:
Tree trimming and hauling branches (I thought I'd be riding the stationary bike, but Dad really needed this done, so it took all morning but it's done!)
By the way, if there is anyone else out there who would like to join us, but perhaps it's the cheat day aspect of this diet that is preventing you (because you don't trust yourself with a weekly cheat day), as far as I'm concerned you don't HAVE to have a cheat day. Of course, that gives you no leeway for when you want to have a little something extra, but if you feel strongly that you cannot do a cheat day or you want to reserve a cheat day for only those very special occasions like birthdays and holidays, that's fine! You can modify your slow carb diet! Just don't modify it to have more than one cheat day a week lol!
I continue to feel good about my how my body feels, will weigh and measure sometime this weekend. Haven't gotten to exercise daily, that bums me out - just doesn't interest me, trying to figure that out.
B: Scrambled Eggs with side salad
L: Salami roll ups with cheese
S: Cocoa nuts, stick cheese
D: 1/2 c yogurt, Nacho burger (no bun), salad, few onion rings (bad-not even worth it)
I'll try to read more tomorrow. I sent you a PM. SOOOOOO glad you're back 
Actually, I didn't get too far away from eating low carb yesterday, having had only a baked potato and a piece of candy out of the ordinary. But it was a good baked potato and piece of candy! 
I am very surprised that the half lb from yesterday came off today. When I woke up, my finger joints felt very stiff, so I thought for sure I was still holding that water. In fact, I half-expected to have gained because it's about time for me to start holding pre-TOM water weight. Well, that is IF Tom decides to visit me this month. At my age, I never know anymore, lol! So I was pleasantly surprised to be back down this morning. 
. I tried yesterday and did good until I was told I had to work somewhere else after my shift was over. 
Maybe once you get going with the exercise like you want to, it will move that scale! 
: Also, drink plenty of water! 
lol! 