Let’s roll up the rugs. Hang the streamers. It’s my LWL first anniversary, and I’m ready to rock and roll!
Actually, I’ve been downright serious about this post as Aug. 15 approached. And I’ve been surprised to find myself of such a serious bent. If you had suggested to me a year ago, when I first dipped my toe into the LWL waters, that I would set so much store in the this anniversary, I think I would have called you daft. Little did I know then how important you all would become to me as I embarked on this new path. It’s been an illuminating year, and you all know what that means: long post follows.
First, the stats: This morning, I weighed 143. On Aug. 15, 2003, I weighed 140. In the intervening 365 days, I’ve swung between 138 and 145. I’d rather be lower than higher, but I’ve begun to wean myself from the scale, and I’m not overly distressed at the numbers. And, on a very positive note, I’d point out that I did not regain the 50 pounds I’ve lost a couple of times over. And I did not have to purchase a whole new wardrobe. The old wardrobe – still 10s and 12s -- fits just fine.
I did not make my goal, set about April or so, of reducing my body fat significantly or increasing my muscle weight significantly. So, that becomes the goal for Year No. 2.
But was the year a total loss? Far from it! In fact, it’s been a remarkable year. I’ve learned a whole new way of eating, which really translates into a whole new way of living. I’ve added significant exercise into my life, and I’m preparing to add even more. I’m healthier than I was a year ago, and I know how to take better care of myself.
Here are a few of my breakthroughs:
I’ve learned how to spoil my dinner! This may be my greatest achievement (please tell me that you’re as dotty as I am about these things – I mean, did I really just call this my “greatest achievement
), because I’ve finally learned how to eat 5 or 6 small meals a day. By that I mean, I’ve learned that small means SMALL, like 250-300 max; that small meals need to be evenly spaced out through the day, so that I never get too hungry; that lots of small meals need lots of big planning.
Why am I so proud of being able to spoil my dinner? Because if I eat a small meal about 4 or 4:30 p.m., I do not walk in the front door at 6:30, absolutely starving. And that means when I sit down for dinner, I don’t morph into a human Hoover, scarfing up everything except the pattern on the plate. Au contraire. I am able to eat a nice small dinner, and be happy. Boy and girls, this is major. In my case, it has made a huge dent in my night eating, and that alone may be the most important accomplishment of the whole blooming year. But wait, there’s more.
I’ve learned how to eat by the clock. This is a funny accomplishment, since I spent so many years learning NOT to eat by the clock. In my bad old days, every time a “mealtime” rolled around, I ate, hungry or not. Time for brunch? Let’s eat. Time for lunch? Let’s eat (even if I’d had that aforementioned brunch). Teatime? Dinnertime? You got it – I had that knife and fork out faster than you could ask, “But are you hungry?” Now that was the stumper question. Who knew? Not me.
So, as I began to re-learn how to eat, I focused on learning to eat when I was hungry, and learning not to eat when I was not. I’d say I was pretty successful. I usually know, now, when my body is hungry (compared to being “mouth hungry.”) This is valuable knowledge. However, for me to successfully follow the several-small-meals-a-day plan, I need to watch that clock and ensure that I eat about every three hours. I’m not always starving at the three-hour mark, and that’s the beauty of it. Because I’m not starving, I don’t overeat. In fact, in the last two weeks or so, I’ve not gorged once. I tell you, it’s a blooming miracle!
I just coast along, feeling quite fine, thank you very much.
I’m learning to eat thoughtfully (thank you Silverbirch), which for me includes the notion of looking at what I’ve put on that plate and recognizing that it’s enough. You see, my “full” switch is busted. Kaput.
As I said, I usually know when I’m empty, but it takes me a long time to know when I’m full – sometimes up to an hour after a meal. This is a lesson I’ve learned in the last year, largely because others had already figured it out and mentioned it. I also have come to realize that I’m not a volume eater; I feel better when I eat small portions. To put it another way, I feel dreadful when I eat too much. So, in addition to savoring what I eat, I also remind myself that if I’ve weighed and measured (or done a good job of estimating), then what’s on the plate is all I need, and that if I eat more, I will regret it. I’m still working on this, but it’s getting ever so much easier. And when I come to the end of what’s on the plate, I quit. Plain and simple. And wait. And you know what? I’m almost always full.
Incidentally, as a result of the foregoing, I’ve decided to quit “banking” calories or setting calories aside for a big holiday meal or a special occasion. When I do that, all I do is work myself into a frenzy over what I’ve eaten and what I’m (not) going to eat. As Nero Wolfe (anyone remember him?) would say, pfui. From now on, I eat my small meals. I “ruin” the big event meal, which means I will eat lightly, but I will enjoy. And I will go on.
You know what’s really interesting about all of this: it only came together in the last month or so. When I hit that slump in mid-summer, and started rereading threads all over LWL, my little mental machinery clicked. The personal stories; the menus; the recipes; the workout routines; all the threads made a whole.
So, where do I go from here? To me, the next obvious chapter is all about exercise – finding workouts that work for me. My morning cardio is obviously one important component, as is yoga, which is assuming a more and more important place in day. I’m looking forward to working with the physical therapist I met last week, and with the personal trainer I’ve contacted. And I’m really looking forward to year No. 2.
To you, my friends, I send my heartfelt
and my warmest regards. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Affectionately,
)
for the first time. I never heard of that term until I started reading this site. I felt so successful; the only sad thing is that I was shocked it took such a light weight to do it. I really t h o u g h t I was in better shape then that, well I will be pretty soon.
Now we're going to sit tight here in Pittsburgh and wait until we hear that the power and water are back on before we set out. Right now it looks like the earliest we'll leave is Friday, arriving Saturday. It probably doesn't make a lot of sense to move INTO a disaster area, but we don't have a choice since his classes are still scheduled to start as planned on 8/26.
) Evangeline, my dear -- don't be embarrassed about the weight you're lifting -- we all started with light weights. The important thing is to lift that weight (regardless of how light) with perfect form. Nothing makes me 
Sugar Cube , 08-16-2004 07:55 PM
3fcuser1058250 , 08-16-2004 11:05 PM
Wow! One year, how time flies... 
... Also the "thoughtful" eating, I do love that one too Silver! Another thing I realise about this forum is that the more I talk and reflect about my eating problems and just when I "THINK" I'm alone... Someone comes up with the same problem I have, it's great not to feel so lonely in this healthy lifestyle. So Robin here's to another productive year, you've come such a long way and best of luck in your future workout endeavours 
... 
I must remember that next time I feel a second piece idea coming on...
Be right over in about, oh lets see, 8 hours or so... 
s except me? I'd go a little 
and must go to bed...TTFN...
)
woo hoo!! What an entertaining and factual post 
So no vegies (or daylilies, lilies or hostas) grow here anymore 
