Originally Posted by Pipsicle (Post 5412601)

I've realized I can put a better spin on my current plateau. Instead of looking at it as not losing any weight for the last couple of months, I can look at it as maintaining a twenty pound loss for the last couple of months. From what I understanding, maintaining is as hard as losing weight.

Originally Posted by Pipsicle (Post 5412639)

So instead of being at 598 days, my new number of days left is 681. Ouch- that's an 83 day gain (better days than pounds though). The current predicted date I will reach my goal is June 7, 2022. That seems so far off! Although if success was guaranteed, I would be very happy. Unfortunately, it is not and I am very imperfect. Anyway, it is still better than the April 19, 2024 which was the prediction at the start of this thread. I stand by my statement that I am a terrible dieter. Today was a bad day and I definitely did not get any closer to my goal. Tomorrow will be better.

Originally Posted by Pipsicle (Post 5412703)

680 (again)....

So today, I had my slowest bike ride yet. I think I am still tired from my trip. Some day I will have more energy (instead of less) from eating healthier and exercising, right? Even had to walk extra slow today. So slow even my dear ever a gentleman husband commented on it. Still checked in, still fighting the good fight.

On-plan
3 walks
calorie deficit
started fast

Add-on plan
1 bike ride
additional calorie deficit

Off-plan
90 calories short on my additional calorie deficit

Originally Posted by Pipsicle (Post 5412752)

679...

My bike ride went much better this evening. Yesterday and today I saw a lot of bats on my bike ride. I try to leave exactly at sunset which seems to be the time the bats come out. There were 6 circling a house in my neighborhood that already looked creepy and scary.

So I am trying to understand if it is possible to burn fat and replace fat stores in the same day. I use the keto test strips and the results are consistent with my calorie tracking. On days I believe I have created a calorie deficit, the keto test strip is positive. On days I don't think I've created a calorie deficit, the keto test strip is negative. Still waiting for it to show up on the scale in a meaningful way. This makes me wonder am I just replacing my fat stores as quickly (or quicker) than I am burning them off. I thought of catchy name for the keto test strips but almost immediately forgot it. I hope it comes back to me because I remember thinking it was very fitting.

On-plan
3 walks
calorie deficit
ended fast (19 hr)

Add-on plan
1 bike ride
additional calorie deficit

Originally Posted by Pipsicle (Post 5412809)

678...

Oh No! Oh No! My hopes are up! I had a lovely weigh-in this morning. If I can hang on to this loss, I will actually have a loss for the month. It will be small but I will take it. My fingers and toes are crossed. If I could, I would hold my breath. I will be so disappointed if it slips through my fingers. I feel like I have been working hard this month to try and break through this plateau. I have been on-plan and on add-on plan most days this month. Although the loss is so small, it will be more like putting a little crack in the plateau. One has to start somewhere though.

On-plan
3 walks
calorie deficit
started fast

Add-on plan
1 bike ride
additional calorie deficit

Originally Posted by Pipsicle (Post 5412863)

677...

Today the scale showed a bump up. Tomorrow is the money day and the first of the month can also count. Two more chances to show a loss for the month.

So I finally have a piece of clothing that is showing my weight loss. My shorts are a little bit longer. They don't fit any better around the waist though.

On-plan
3 walks
calorie deficit
ended fast (18 hr)

Add-on plan
1 bike ride
additional calorie deficit

Originally Posted by Pipsicle (Post 5412924)

676...

I forgot today was my exercise rest day. I did my three walks and my bike ride. I was on the front edge of a thunderstorm for my bike ride and got sprinkled on for most of it. I just barely got home before the heavier rain started. It was very strange, I could hear the heavier rain behind me. It was as if I was being chased. I didn't make good time on my ride though. It was about average.

On-plan
3 walks
calorie deficit
ended fast (16 hr)

Add-on plan
1 bike ride

Off-plan
Calorie deficit was not large enough
Did not make an additional calorie deficit

Originally Posted by Pipsicle (Post 5412986)

675...

Great news! I am able to report a 1.5 lb loss this month. I also believe I have found my error in my calculations that is throwing things off. According to my spreadsheet, I was off by an average of 80 calories a day between what I should have lost based on what I recorded and what I actually lost. So I went back through everything. When I switched from my regular exercise program to walking, I guessed at how many calories I am burning during the walks. I looked up the actual values today. Turns out I was off by... you guessed it.... 80 calories. Will begrudgingly adjust for August.

On-plan
1 walk (changed my rest day to today since I forgot yesterday)
ended fast (bonus fast, 14 hr)

Off-plan
calorie overage

Originally Posted by Pipsicle (Post 5413046)

646...

It is really a reconfirmed weight loss not a new confirmed low. I figure I've seen it before so I can recalculate and have shaved off 29 days (Yah!). My new end date is Monday, May 9, 2022. It seems so far away and yet so close.

With my interpretation that my stalled weight loss was due to a miscalculation on the amount of grace exercise was giving me, I am going to return to having just one plan.

1. Create a calorie deficit of at least 250 calories
2. Exercise six days a week (3 walks and 1 bike ride each day)
3. Fast at least twice a week

Gosh, those are the big ticket items. I have a bunch of other things I try to do but the above is what really makes a difference on the scale.

I've been reading this woman's blog about her weigh loss journey. It goes back to 2006. I started reading at the start and am reading them chronologically. Right now, I'm reading the entries made in 2009. She is still posting so occasionally I'll read a current post and get a bit confused. She recently started a Youtube channel. In the last 2009 post I read, she related the she and her friend feel a sense of pride and accomplishment on the days they eat properly and stay on plan. Boy- I don't!! I usually feel resentful and slightly angry about not getting what I wanted and having to exercise. I need to figure out how to jump ship and climb aboard the pride and accomplishment steamer!

On-plan
exercise
calorie deficit (bonus- larger than planned)

Originally Posted by Pipsicle (Post 5413090)

645...

Overate today but still managed a small calorie deficit. Sometimes I wonder if I should just plan for an over budget day! Not so long ago, there was a commercial where the actor eats one piece of broccoli and does one push-up. The gist of the commercial is it will take more than that to take care of yourself. However, I wonder how much a piece of broccoli and one push-up daily could help - LOL. If you aren't doing anything like that the change could be profound. You never know one push-up could lead to two push-ups, etc. Anyway if my adjustments don't work, I may make that my next change.

On-plan
exercise
started fast

Off-plan
calorie deficit (smaller than planned)