1520 days to go...
 

1 day down 1520 days to go based on the calorie deficit I was able to create today. For me today was hard and it never seems to get easier. This makes me worried that I will not be able to stick to it. I just cannot believe how bad (truly ridiculously terrible) I am at controlling my eating. Or how slow the weight comes off but how rapidly it can return. Recently, I was able to be fully OP for six days. Then the next four days were so bad, I wiped out my hard work for the previous six days. Blah!!


A while ago I asked on the forum if the first 20 pounds were the hardest or the last 20 pounds. The overwhelming result was that it was the last 20. I believe if the population at large were sampled rather than those actively working on their health, it would be the first 20 pounds. There are far more people out there that have yet to lose the first 20 than there are trying to lose the last 20.


Ultimately though, I'd rather be losing a little each day than to not try at all.

1519 to go....

1518 to go....

Did a little better yesterday and today. Trying to decide on a recalculation plan...

1517 to go....

Based on the last few days, the tally may have dropped to around 1000 days. Although, it is not clear if I can keep it up. I had a six day streak before starting this thread and then the next four were off enough to off-set my six good days. What's the quote- The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step....

1516 to go...

Based on including today it may be around 1150 days (up from yesterday, down from the start of the thread). So I think I will officially recalculate when I can adjust my current weight. With a little luck, that will be next Sunday. I still need to give some thought to what I will use for the calculation. Currently I am using the average calorie deficit I've managed since I started this thread. I'm not sure if I will track that long term. However, it seems to be helping so maybe I will.

Fun fact- I've been "seriously" trying to lose this extra weight for 1000 days. It is really weird that it came out to such a round number. I have a little notebook I bought to track things and the 1000 days is calculated from the first entry in the notebook.

1515 to go....

The 1521 days calculation is based on calories. To calculate it, I took the number of pounds I have left to lose (56.5) times 3500 (calories/pound) and divided it by the calorie deficit I was able to create on that day (130). Which means if I can create a daily calorie deficit of 130 calories every day for 1521 days, I will reach my goal weight. So in theory that would be in about four years on Friday, April 19, 2024. Talk about playing the long game.

So 1515 to go (still)...

After a lovely six day on-plan streak, I overate today. I did a 20 hour fast and ate 14% more calories than my break even allotment. Interestingly, the book I have on fasting says folks tend over eat by 20% after breaking a fast. So I am right in there roughly. I may need to reconsider if fasting is the best strategy for me for weight loss. Extending fasts beyond 20 hours is bit much for me. It is annoying though, I knew exactly when I was going to go over. I even thought about and still did it.

Also, there seems to be something about the seventh day. The last time I went off the rails it lasted for four days. We shall see this time....

So back up to 1519 days to go. Was not able to create a calorie deficit today or yesterday and the overages wiped out the deficits from the two previous days.

1518 days to go. I am on the seafood diet...

1517 days to go. Actually, my current unofficial tally is telling me that my two day slip up has added eight years to my end date. Oh my! That really drives home the point that every day counts; it has jumped to 4465 days from today's date!! Still get to count down though as the jump is an "unofficial" tally.

The see-food diet= I see food and I eat it. My grandfather use to tell that joke all the time.

1516 days to go. I was able create another deficit today which dropped three years off of the unofficial tally. I have been using an average of the calorie differences over the last seven days for my calculation.

If this thread gets one post a day, it will reach the 500 post limit on Saturday, July 03, 2021. So stay tuned....

1515 days to go. Able to create another deficit today. My slip-ups from last week are still dragging down my end date. Wasn't able to calculate a new 'official' end date as my current weight didn't change today (official weigh-in day).

Still trying to fine tune my calculation. Currently, I am using 7 days for the average calorie deficit to use. I was thinking of using 21 days because I had heard that was how long it took to make new habits. I looked it up and a recent(ish) study said it was between 2 and 254 days with the average being 66 days. LOL- more options to consider...

1514 days to go...

Was on-plan today. For me that means I was able to create a 250 calorie deficit and to start a fast at 7:00 pm. Looking forward to tomorrow because my big oopsie day of last week will fall out of my calculation and greatly shorten my unofficial end date. The the 1521 days tracked in this thread is the official tally based on my current weight. When I can adjust my current weight, I will adjust the official tally for the end date calculation.

In fact, I thought I was going to be able to do that this weekend but didn't not confirm the half pound loss I thought I could. It was a bit of a bummer but it is turning out to be a proof of concept opportunity. I have not made a calorie deficit equal to a half pound so it makes sense my current weight didn't change. I should hit that some time this week.

1513 to go. I was on-plan today. I completed a 20 hour fast and created a 500+ calorie deficit.

1514 days to go. Overate enough today to wipe out the deficit created yesterday. Five steps forward, two steps back. I am wondering how the longer fasts I am attempting play into this. Although, last night was hopefully a one-off. I had to run a last minute errand last night and also had to stay up really late to do something really important and time dependent for a dear loved one. Then today I had a bunch of unusual stuff going on. One was an appointment that I should have been prepared for but wasn't (mostly because of the two unexpected tasks).

Another factor I'll need to consider is if stopping a particular supplement played into this. Even though it is not suppose to, I think the supplement may be causing an increase in my blood pressure. So I didn't take it today but was definitely hungrier than usual.

On a fun note- My scaled played music today which means I am at a new low weight. This is the first time since the beginning of January. My scale has no numbers. If I am lower than the previous day, it plays applause. If it is a new low weight, it plays music and tells me congratulations. If I am up from the previous day, it spouts an encourage message or health tip. It resets itself every 10 pounds I lose. Of course, I have my rules so this new low weight is unofficial until it pops up on an official weekly weigh-in day.

1513 days to go. If I weren't such a screw up it would be 1505 days left. Honestly, I feel like I am doing okay. As always, I want to lose the weight as fast as I gained it but that is just not how things work. I'm looking forward to Sunday and am hopeful I can do a new calculation. It should shave a lot of days off. Maybe even a year's worth.

1512 days to go. My scale played music again today. It is the second new low weight this week. I don't think that has ever happened before. We'll see if the loss sticks.

1511 days to go. Took a look at the recent history I have been tracking and realized I may inadvertently be on the 80/20 diet. The 80/20 diet says you can make good diet choices 80% of the time and still lose weight. 80% of the days I have tracked recently, I have been able to create a calorie deficit which I equate with making good diet choices.

Fingers crossed for a good weigh in tomorrow.

RECALCULATION- Confirmed Weight Loss
 

1414 days to go. I had a confirmed weight loss today so I have recalculated based on my new current weight. 96 days shaved off- YAY!!

My new end date is Sunday, January 21, 2024.

56 lbs left to lose X 3500 calories/lbs = 1414 days
138.6 avg. calorie deficit/day

1413 days to go. Continuing my slow march to success. I need to do what I have already done four more times. One day at a time....

Edit: I calculated the four more times by taking the amount I would like to lose (70 lbs) minus the amount I have lost so far (14 lbs) which equals 56 lbs. Then I divided the 56 lbs by 14 lbs to get to four more times. Weird how it is a nice even number!

70-14=56

56/14=4

1412 days to go. I ended a 19 hour fast today and was able to create a nice calorie deficit of 405 calories.

1411 days to go. I started another fast today at 7:00 pm today. This is the seventh day in a row I have been able to create a calorie deficit. It is a record since I started tracking this. My scale played music this am which means a new low weight. Fingers crossed the loss sticks around until the official weigh-in day, Sunday.

1410 days to go. I completed a 20 hour fast. This is the eighth day in a row that I have been able to create a calorie deficit. This may be a record for me.

So one of my problems and possibly the biggest with regards to weight loss is my brain and my belly have what can only be described as a failure to communicate. There are times when I have just eaten but my brain is telling my belly, quite loudly, that it is empty. Not just empty, that it hasn't eaten for days. I have developed a new strategy for this. I wear a belt and drink seltzer water. It seems to be retraining them on how to communicate.

1409 days to go. Ninth day in a row for a calorie deficit and I am very happy I have been able to do this. Hit a snag- my gym, the local rec center, has been closed as a precaution to slow the spread of Coronavirus. Trying to figure out exercise alternatives that fit with my limitations. We just tried to donate a old piece of exercise equipment but it was so old we couldn't donate it. It may have to come back into the house instead of heading for the dump- LOL.

1408 days to go. Tenth day in a row for creating a calorie deficit. Today was a challenge because I ended up snacking in the middle of the night. Pretty unusual for me but I woke up really hungry. Meant to have a little snack but it was double what I intended to eat. Was able to account for it during the rest of the day to keep the streak going.

Visiting area gyms while the rec center is closed. The old piece of exercise equipment is sitting in the living room as a back up. Will likely be able to recalculate again tomorrow if the scale plays nice.

A few days back I calculated that I had to do what I've done four more times based on having lost 14 pounds. I was just reminded that 1 stone is equal to 14 pounds. Funny how the math works out. I have lost 1 stone and need to lose 4 more.

RECALCULATION- Confirmed Weight Loss
 

729 days to go! I had a confirmed weight loss today so I have recalculated based on my new current weight. 679 days shaved off- YAY!!

My new end date is Monday, March 14, 2022.

53 lbs left to lose X 3500 calories/lbs = 729 days
254.3 avg. calorie deficit/day

Eleventh day in a row for creating a calorie deficit.

728 days to go! Twelfth day in a row with a calorie deficit! Seems like something has changed. I had more energy and I was able to create a larger than usual calorie deficit without trying! Really, really hoping it continues!

727 days to go! Thirteenth day in a row with a calorie deficit. Same as yesterday- was able to create a larger than planned deficit without a lot of effort. I hope it keeps up. The area gyms have closed so I am working on a back up exercise plan.

728 days to go. Overate today and barely exercised. All the closures in the area due to the pandemic have really messed up my routine. Hoping to get back on track tomorrow.

727 days to go. Looks like I will be creating a really good calorie deficit today.

So with the rec center, the gyms, the ice skating rinks and Pilates studios close, I took a walk for exercise....

It was 30F, 13 mph wind from the NNW, so real feel of 15F, sleet/snow (horizontal at times), in the open space with fresh coyote tracks- so fresh I felt it prudent to stop and look behind me occasionally (I suspect I passed within 10 ft of it but didn't see it)....

I'm not necessarily feeling more protected from the cornavirus restrictions. They certainly aren't protecting me from all of my own questionable decisions - LOL.

726 days to go! So far have a calorie deficit for today but my appetite is being uncooperative. I need to find my belt and get a can of seltzer.

My cheeks were very unappreciative of my walk yesterday. By bedtime they were swollen and red from the snow-blasting.

725 days to go! Was able to create a calorie deficit for certain yesterday and should be able to today as well.

726 days to go. Had a calorie overage today- boo! Also the scale was uncooperative so no recalculation either.

Got my ancient piece of exercise equipment up an running.

726 days to go. Had another overage today. The overages today and yesterday were in part due to a bad choice at the grocery. That supply has been exhausted so tomorrow should be better.

725 days to go! Ended a 19 hour fast today and created a lovely calorie deficit.

The spin doctor is in the house. I am re-framing things. Instead of social distancing, I am cocooning. My goal is to be healthier and lighter when we all get to emerge from our current circumstances.

724 days to go. Created a calorie deficit and started a 19 hour fast this evening.

Also, my scale played music which means I am at a new low weight, unofficial of course. To be official, it must appear and be maintained across two official weekly weigh-ins on Sunday. An exciting development though because my last official weigh-in put a confirmed loss in danger.

723 days to go. Created a calorie deficit. 19 hour fast end up being a 16 hour fast.

Because last Sunday I was up a tad, I will not be able to recalculate this Sunday. New losses need to be maintained across two weigh-ins so the earliest recalculation would be April 5. Ultimately, I don't think I will have any more big downward jumps in the tally. I have adjusted the calculation to calculate the total days left based on my plan. My plan is designed to lose a half a pound a week. I feel challenged to meet that.

723 days to go. Today was a break even day as best as I can figure. Had a lot stuff that I needed to estimate how many calories in them. Also had trouble sleeping and then had a mid-night snack. For whatever reason, I felt really, really hungry.

722 days to go. Created a lovely calorie deficit today. So lovely, it pretty much makes up for yesterday.

721 days to go. Another successful day- whew! Have a pending loss waiting for confirmation next Sunday.