680 days to go...

So...yesterday I ended up more than a tad over. The fast I started ended three hours later. Was also over calorie wise today as well. Official weigh-in was on track (confirmed a half pound loss) so no recalculation. Feeling like my body is in full revolt. Hungry all of the time and have lost motivation. Under a bit of extra stress above and beyond the COVID-19 new normal. In reality, it is a really good thing but may lead to lots of change.

On a brighter note, I did get all three of my walks in and we had a healthy dinner. Will try to get to sleep earlier and plan to have a good day tomorrow. Earlier this month I was watching a show on Youtube called Fat Doctor. It is about a doctor in the UK who does weight loss surgery. It was really interesting seeing their approach and the differences between UK and the US.

679...

Still counting down even though I completely ran off the rails today- arghh! Looking at myself when I say that- arghh!! Overate mostly to manage anxiety. I can't even blame my stupid appetite on this one. It was emotional eating through and through. Wish it didn't taste so good. Managed to start a fast on time. Hoping to get back on track before the weigh-in on Sunday.

678 days to go...

So today, I ate everything. Ergo no calorie deficit- darn! Tomorrow is another day to get back on track. I did complete an eighteen hour fast and took my three walks. Need to do better tomorrow.

677...

I think I am back on track- whew! Was able to create a calorie deficit. Also did my three walks and remembered to start a fast at 7:00 pm.

676...

Second day in a row back on track more or less. Not quite creating the calorie deficit I want but any calorie deficit is a good calorie deficit at this point. Today, I completed an eighteen hour fast and took three walks. Holding my breath until judgement day (i.e., my weigh-in on Sunday).

As part of response to a question unrelated to dieting, the columnist for Ask Amy wrote the following:

"Here I am, staring at a shelf-full of diet books, all of which seemed like a solution when I acquired them, but none of which proved useful until I decided to take responsibility - and be accountable - for my own behavior. And then -- what do you know - I didn't need a book."

For whatever reason, this evokes a lot of emotion in me. I really feel like I am taking responsibility and being accountable. However, I am unable to achieve the level of success I desire. It took quite a bit of scrapping to get this far.

675...

A late night snack upended my attempt to stay on track yesterday. Still have a deficit in the bank for today even accounting for a late night snack potential. Holding steady to have a good weigh-in on Sunday. We shall see if my transgressions catch up to me by then. Still keeping on keeping on!

674....

Over a little bit on calories today but got my three walks in. Interestingly, the scale this morning was tied with my most recent lowest weight. Hopefully, it will hold until tomorrow's weigh-in.

673...

The results are in! Despite having a dreadful week, I am still on track according to the scale. Right on-plan so the countdown continues. Below is a summary of the key points of my plan. It is a mish-mash of everything.

• Create a calorie deficit on 250 calories/day (Goal is to lose a half a pound a week.)
• Fast 2-3 times a week
• Log on to the forum once a week for the pre-diabetes thread
• Exercise at least 20 minutes a day
• Get 20 minutes of fresh air a day
• Log on to the forum once a day for this countdown thread
• Greatly limit sugared soda
• Go to bed at a reasonable time
• Pair net carbs and protein together (2:1 ratio)
• Increase fiber intake

So far today, I am doing a little better than planned. Hopefully, there will be no late night snacking. Tomorrow I will summarize what I think the key to lasting weight loss is in one word....

672...

fiber

671...

Seemingly back on track. Also had a new low weight this morning which very unexpected but exciting. Took my three walks and created a calorie deficit.

So why do I think fiber is the key to lasting weight loss?

It is because it helps the gut microbiome balance itself. My apologies in advance as my explanation is terrible. So here it goes; I was looking into the microbiome balance due a different (not life threatening ) medical condition. It was unexpectedly cured as a side effect of a treatment (fecal transplant) for different life threatening condition. When I was looking for more information on how to achieve a better balance, a lot of it was within the obesity sphere of research. Basically it focuses on two groups of bacteria in the gut. One is the type you can supplement with probiotics and the other is supported by fiber (among other things). If the balance becomes off (too much of the former/ not enough of the latter), it can lead to obesity. There are other examples of the procedure that lead the person to either gaining a lot weight or losing a lot of weight. Of course, there are many other benefits to fiber.

Anecdotally, for me I was able to get back on plan when I was sure to get more fiber.

670...

Forgot to mention that yesterday I completed an 18 hour fast. Today, I created another calorie deficit, took 3 walks and started another fast. Tomorrow and Friday will be key days for me. I will use one of them for the end of the month weight. My monthly weight tally is separate from my weekly weigh-ins. For the weekly weigh-in, any loss has to be confirmed at a following weigh-in to become 'official'. For the monthly weigh-ins, I just take the raw number. Fingers crossed- wonder how many calories that burns...?

I also weigh myself daily but in general ignore those weights unless it is something exciting (new low weight) or something appalling (weight increased by three pounds). However, those are still trivial. Weekly and monthly weigh-ins are where it is at!

669...

On-track. Created a calorie deficit, ended a 16 hour fast and went on three walks today. Here are common recommendations that do not work for me-

• Eating low fat
  • Result is eating high sugar, low fiber foods
• Eating low carb
  • End up desperately craving carbs and over eating them
• Eating 6-8 small meals
  • Simply eating too much from eating so often
• Writing down what I am eating
  • I realize how bad I am eating and all seems lost so may as well eat whatever I want
• Drinking eight 8 oz. glasses of water
  • I spend my entire day heading to the restroom
  • Also the original study that this is from had a footnote that said individuals get 70% of their fluid needs from food
• Switching brown rice for white
  • Brown rice= yuck, so I end up making worse food choices than white rice
• Walking is a good exercise for everyone
  • I have a bad foot and a worse foot
  • I am in constant pain from the walking I have been doing
  • Because of my feet, I am unable to increase my heart rate by much

668....

Was on plan today. Took a break from my big walks but still did my short walk.

Also wanted to say I lost 3.5 lbs in April. I am really proud of that and hope to keep it up!

667....

Barely created a calorie deficit today, so not quite on-plan but I will take it. Did take my three walks though. The proof will be in the pudding. Tomorrow is weigh-in day. My daily weight has been on track to show a loss tomorrow. However, I have a long history of seeing a bump up on Sunday. I'd like to say it is for no reason. In reality, it is my body tattling on me for eating poorly on Friday and Saturday.

666...

Weight was on-track according to plan today. Although, it was a bump up for most of the weights this week. As a result, I will not be able to confirm a loss next week. Hoping I will have a pending loss on next Sunday though. Turns out I forgot something in my tally yesterday and was actually a little over. Went on my three walks and was able to create a larger than planned calorie deficit today.