I'm very bad at maintaining... This is making me sad.
Progress as of today: 60 lbs lost so far, only -10 lbs to go!
A new approach for this month (and perhaps for the winter months ahead) to help me deal with the winter weather and the darker days ahead:
Last night, at dinner, I refrained from having second helpings, unfortunately because my husband had stormed off rather than eat with us as a family. I had a taco (on a lo-carb tortilla) and then a tomato/cucumber side sald. Instead of eating more, to prolong the dinner hour, I drank more water. Then, after dinner, I suddenly felt very tired. Instead of pushing myself to go on an evening walk or fighting my fatigue with food, I decided to get ready for bed and relax before going to sleep. I usually read before bed, but decided to watch a documentary on public television instead. Then I went to sleep - EARLY.
It was still difficult to get my butt out of bed this morning, despite more sleep, but I think this is the way to go. Note: Sometimes, when I feel tired, I don't handle that feeling correctly and eat, instead of rest or drink water. I confuse both thirst and fatigue with hunger. So if I'm thirsty or tired, I'll eat instead of dealing with the actual issue correctly. Going to work this month on changing that.
So the plan:
The week I go to Nevada to visit my relatives for Thanksgiving is exempt because it's warmer and lighter out there. Plus I want to use every waking moment to visit with family!
Thoughts on this approach?
Progress as of today: 58 lbs lost so far, only -8 lbs to go!
Like you, I have gotten better, but, i also have the problem of when feeling tired thinking i am hungry and/or getting VERY snacky and craving carbs. I used to really limit my sleep and especially in college and stuff and in my 20's and i was always battling the carb addiction and stuff and i do believe it had to do with sleep. I'm always able to better deal with cravings and eat way normal portions when my sleep is good.
for the first time ever, my sleep is very decent this year. eating has been easiest this year.
when my sleep is really rotten, it's hard to do things, yes. and your mind will want more food oh yes.
so i like your approach for sleep. when it's cold and dark, we will want more sleep. Sleep is underrated and you may need MORE than you think. It's true to listen to your body when you are tired. Like you, same thing happened with me last night.
Yesterday when i woke up in the morning,i already knew i wasn't ready to go to the gym yet after after work for thursday bc i could tell my body wasn't rested enough and an early sleep would be better than a powerful workout. So just like you mention that you are giving yourself options to skip exercise if you really need sleep, i did the same.
tonight i'll push just so i get it done and can therefore go again sunday. but this week i skipped both jogs bc it was a very busy week and already included more walking and i didn't want to include everything which would just exhaust me.
you do have to make good choices as suitable for everything in your life that's going on. I support you.
Like i was saying, there are many studies that more than 8 hours is sometimes helpful. Not every night, but if you body is wanting sleep, sleep.
I've really been struggling this week... Not sure what to do, but I know I can find support here.
Start with the mint brownies I made this past weekend. I have not been able to resist these as well as I was able to resist the previous batch of brownies I made several weeks ago.
The cold weather is really packing a punch this year. I do not know how on earth I will cope once we turn the clocks back this weekend and living becomes encased in darkness. Get up - it's dark. Exercise - it's dark. Leave for work - still dark, just starting to get light. Get off of work - it's dark. Drive home - it's dark. Eat dinner - it's dark. Go for a walk - it's dark.
Plus, my lunchtime walks will be coming to an end soon once the snow/ice hits.
Now I'm stuck with all this d*mn Halloween candy: Snickers, M&M's, Starburst (can pass on this), Skittles (pass)...
Tomorrow (Wednesday) is a new month. I'm going to use this "new beginning" as a jump-start to my motivation as well. I CAN DO THIS.
Progress as of today: 58 lbs lost so far, only -8 lbs to go!
With the brownies, if you don’t want them at all, bring them to work to share with office. Otherwise, throw out after a few days. Or, get used to having them around and after always eating them, you’ll get used to having them around and want them less. This is at least what happens for me. Remember that NOTHING is off-limits and all foods are ok in moderation.
Work treats / brownies into your diet plan if you want. Like, have one before you walk, a small piece, with an herbal tea to fill your stomach up the rest of the way. I always eat treats, followed up with a sweet liquid I usually use a lot of stevia and sometimes equal. I eat a serving of the treat (like a granola bar or fiber one cookie) and have the drink which is usually around 2 cups. Then, I feel satisfied.
I also hate the time change that comes with Daylight Savings Time Ending. But you WILL COPE because you have NO CHOICE but to cope. So don’t get all nervous about it – because you’ll fall back into the time change like you did all the other years of your life, my pretty J !
If you really don’t want the candy, bring it to work, give it away, or throw it out. In my apartment, they gave me a ton last night because they still had a lot at 7pm when I got home, I will save the candy bc I am better at moderation now than I ever was. I am good with taking a normal amount and having a drink of 2 cups at most and then feeling satisfied without needing more candy or getting tempted anymore by more.
Of course you can do it. Why be “average” when you can be super? It’s all a mind game!
I'm not sure if this week's weigh-in should count, since I had a couple of bad days and didn't eat much dinner Thursday or Friday. On the other hand, I give myself credit for not eating when I'm completely stressed out (Thursday) and not forcing myself eat something I don't like (Friday -- really tough meat, no thanks).
I'm wondering if I should try to lose 2 more pounds, so that I have an even 60 pounds gone...
Not too many issues with my back this week. Never take good health for granted. I'm grateful for every day that I can move.
Cold weather has settled in Chicagoland. I realized last night that I'm going to have to start wearing my long, puffy winter coat on evening walks, now. As long as the field lights are on at the park for soccer practice, I feel comfortable walking the loop at the park. Once soccer season ends, then I'll have to resort to finding another route.
Work is still a little too busy for me, for this time of the year... I guess this is a good thing though, as we want to make money, and it also means that we have a healthy real estate market. Losing my grip on the work-life balance though. Walking is about the only thing keeping my sanity preserved through all the chaos.
As I didn't get to it last weekend, tonight is the night I will carve my pumpkin!
Progress as of today: 58 lbs lost so far, only -8 lbs to go!
J Donk….yes, count this week. Weighing in doesn’t only mean counting losses or counting only the gains. A weigh-in is a weigh-in – my opinion. And what you are tracking is exactly that – keeping track of the weight and/or weight fluctuations so that you can learn from the week and try to repeat the good and do away or lessen the choices you made or things that happened that weren’t as productive to maintaining and/or losing weight.
Weirdly enough, lately, the MORE I eat, the more I lose. I simply do not get this on my end!!!!
But yes, count the week, unless I see – you think you’ll regain and don’t want to keep moving your scale here…I get this. I understand what you mean now. ..but either way, the week counts overall, even if you don’t move the scale here….got ya.
I was reading something that helped me so much with weight loss – that if you want to lose weight, the end product (weight loss) is based on your ACTIONS the PROCESS leading up to the actual weight loss. So if your goal is to lose two more pounds, you will have to make the small changes or keep your current way (if it supports losing more weight) and you have to be content with knowing that choices you make will eventually cause weight loss. What I mean is, you have to welcome the process. I support you losing the 2 more…if you are happy as you are, don’t worry about round numbers. If you feel you could lose 2 more and it would make you feel better overall, do it! Both ways, maintenance of your current weight is very important. You don’t want to ever slip and gain it back ! I like that you are focused on improving yourself and also that your back is much better.
Same here, it’s dark during my evening runs also. And when I jogged at the track at the college, the kicked me off after 1.5 miles because there was a game taking place on the field in the middle of it…makes it hard for us to train, you know! But like you said well – you simply have to find another way, another route.
It is up to YOU to say NO or leave on time some days. My dad gives up his work life balance, but I am grateful it’s not a choice I have to ever make. Your kids are a little older too…right?...so this should help you gain more independence at least at home? Make time for yourself and for what makes you happy.
I did not have the opportunity to write earlier today because this is the day of the month that I volunteer at the legal clinic. Seeing other people's problems really helps put one's own situation into perspective. And we helped a lot of people today, too. (Not to mention that there was free coffee, although I brought my own creamer to share with all.)
This week was an interesting experiment in Maintenance Land. I don't typically have sandwiches for lunch but rather opt for a low-carb, high protein w/vegetables lunch. But this week, we had 2 visits from the title company, and each time, they treated us to lunch. The first time was Panera -- had the vegetable mediterrainian sandwich (because the turkey sandwich I originally chose had too much meat for how I was feeling that day) -- and the second time was Portillos (hot dog/beef place) - where I had another vegetarian sandwich, which had a lot of mushrooms. Yum! On Friday, I finished the turkey sandwich from Panera that was too much for me at the time. LOL. Finally, I brought home all the leftovers which my family had for dinner on Friday. So that's like 4 sandwiches -- quite a diversion from what I usually have. Oh, and we had BLT's for dinner one night, so there's another sandwich.
I do love sandwiches - so convenient! But I was very worried about what the scale would say and if I'd be able to handle it. Happy to say that the scale was very kind. I can start relaxing a little bit, then, about what I do eat, as long as I balance it out with exercise and water intake.
Since I can't ever seem to take full credit for any success, though, I wonder how much of the weight loss is due to muscle loss from taking a break in weight training this month (because of my back problems). I hope to resume a light training schedule in November. "Light" meaning either lighter weights or not very many reps per set. Not sure yet. We'll see what my back will allow, LOL.
I didn't hear from the doctor's office about my MRI. I'm disappointed, but I was warned that I might have to call to follow up. So that will be on my list for this next week.Also, took some first steps to consign some business attire at the high-end resale shop. That is something that I've been putting off forever. I have to call again in November, but now I know what to do. And I continue to downsize the house in preparation of selling next year.
I would say that my back is 95% better, just from the drugs, plus stretches recommended by the PT, and cold/hot treatments. I just have to be very careful and listen to it. It does give me little reminders of "you moved the wrong way today" or "you're doing too much, stop, rest, and give me a treatment", etc.
And I just wanted to let you know that, despite how much we planned for it, my husband has worked his last day, at least at this job. We had initially planned that he would work up until his hip replacement surgery November 29th. But it was decided that he is unable to work at 100% capacity because he's in so much pain during the day.
So, dear Diary Friends, if you can learn anything from my/our journey, please know that you can plan or prepare for the future only so far. Sometimes, life just makes the decisions for you.
Progress as of today: 57.5 lbs lost so far, only -7.5 lbs to go!
I am sure they were happy with some creamer from you! Always love the free coffee…and so nice you volunteer in that way. Yes, it should feel so rewarding to you….I think I may volunteer at a pet shelter before I get my dog. Or, I plan to not get a dog except from a pet shelter…this is my 1.5-2year plan. Totally getting a doggie! I wanted a Pomeranian, but not sure they can be found in the shelters?
The scale changes only based on CALORIES. I am doing the same thing myself…calories are in general higher for me bc I seem to be able to maintain…but…but my other point was the type of calories also includes more breads and fries and it also feels good right now…but if I were to increase calories drastically, I’d gain too. So I also have to balance what I eat….and it’s still easier to balance when you can fill up on veggies when you crave a full feeling…but the nice diversion to breads is nice right now for me, too. Just keep in mind that breads add up…so you simply can’t have the volume of veggies equal to the volume of breads lol…you get me. I usually drink a low cal drink after the meal, to being me to the fully satisfied feeling. So, when I eat the higher cal stuff (fries, breads), I include a low cal drink at the end of the meal…that’s been my trick....for now…I’m glad that your eating has turned sort of like mine – nothing should be totally “off limits.” Also, if a sandwich has too much meat, you can modify that yourself lol…pull it out ;) When vendors come, I typically enjoy the food too! Unless it’s pizza or something completely outta my comfort zone. I don’t like pizza – just too many calories – bread and cheese – both high cal – I typically stay away, unless I could get a small piece with a huge salad.
So yes, you balance it…and no need to get too anxious. This is also the first time in my life that balancing my weight was this simple at such a low weight I mean! Last time I weighed this low was actually around 12-13 years ago and I was not able to be as moderate. I’ve learned so much since then – as I’m sure you have learned also! We both rock at this self-discovery stuff!
STOP – YES, you should take full credit of your success. Don’t even start putting yourself down. It’s you…you are the full reason of your success.
YES – continue to listen to your body as many times Less = More :-P
Life may make some decisions for us, but we maintain the ability to use our free will to decide how we will respond to life’s challenges. There’s two responses mainly – let life decide for you or stand up the those challenges and do your best you can at them. I do the second. And you do too…don’t forget that!
I hurt my back again last night. Trying to use home remedies and I feel better this evening. Moved my right leg the wrong way last night, and I immediately knew it was a mistake. I hoped it would feel better in the morning, bu alas, my back was still complaining. Rx dosage of Aleve, back brace, cold compress --- to which tonight I will alternate with heating pad -- and back support pillow at work. I think this might work.
I have not heard back from the doctor's office regarding the MRI results.
I'm losing my health insurance, because my husband will not be able to work much longer and he carries our insurance. (My employer does not offer insurance.)
In fact, my husband may have already worked his last day :-(
So I am the new face of TrumpCare.
Tried on my wedding ring last night and now it's loose. I have big knuckles, apparently, so no worries that it will fall off, but now there's no tightness. However... I am not so inclined to wear the ring anyway, any more.
It's been another rough week at work. Training a new gal -- she's wonderful, but it's still a learning process. She's making all the right mistakes though, and I think given more time, she'll be fabulous.
Progress as of today: 55.5 lbs lost so far, only -5.5 lbs to go!
Bear & Maria - thank you for your encouragement!!
Happy-1 - I hope you're OK. I think about you...
First and foremost, I still recommend that you get the appropriate amount of sleep at least most nights and that you find time for quiet, relaxing activities such as reading or knitting or tv or whatever it is you enjoy doing that relaxes you. I even relax when I have the tv on and I’m petting my sleepy hamster on my chest I love to put it and it falls right into a snooze once I start petting it.
And then I’m usually so tired that I promptly fall to sleep without reading my book at night – so that’s why I’m I guess pretty thankful for my hour lunch at work – I use it mostly productively and read. Today I walked 5 min to the park and laid on the bench, comfortable under a fully sunny and blue sky, warm temp, reading for half an hour. Life is GREAT. Keep your head up. You will feel better, I promise you that.
Why don’t you like t wear the ring? You aren’t used to it anymore? Or fear of losing it? Eh, I don’t enjoy even wearing expensive jewelry…but a wedding ring also defines you – on first appearance, people see you are married. My mom def always wears her ring. It’s like a “marriage status symbol.” In my mind, anyways.
Breathe , the week is basically over, and enjoy your weekend. Take your mind off of work since nobody else will be thinking about it either.
You seem to have a great position – training others also below you. You have skills and knowledge to give others. Keep up the great work.
Alls well that ends well? I'm really surprised at the weight-in this morning, because I thought for sure the numbers would keep going up, up, up....
I've been hungrier that usual this week and eating more white carbs (bread, pasta). Plus, my exercise/activity level has been less -- still good, but not seeing high step counts on my Fitbit. Most of this is due to the change in season... Cooler temperatures, decreased sunlight after work... It happens every year, this "chaos" before I settle into a new routine. Perhaps this "change" challenged my metabolism, which was able to keep up?
Add into this my back problems... Had the MRI on Thursday. I had forgotten how loud the machine is, but it was not a bad experience. In fact, if it weren't for the noises, it was the perfect opportunity to relax and do nothing. I enjoyed hearing the variety of sounds and tones the machine makes as it does its imaging. I should have the results early this coming week.
Most of my pain has gone away -- except felt another dull stab in the back this morning while I was stretching -- but my right side has numbness and, on occassion, coldness, so I'm glad that I had the MRI for some answers... Especially if I'm going to be losing my health insurance next year...
Finally, to add to all this drama this week, I had some difficulties in the bathroom. Lack of "bathroom moments" for 3 days. Yikes... Things started moving along, reluctantly, yesterday, thank goodness!
It is cold and rainy here this weekend, and with my back pangs, I'm not sure how much of my anbitious "to do" list I will get done... Last weekend, I did not get anything done for the house selling and I hate that I might miss another weekend...
Finally made a decision about Thanksgiving: my son and I will be flying out to Vegas to visit my mom, step-dad, brother, sis-in-law, and their 5 kids. My daughter and my husband have to work, so they will stay behind. I'm not happy about being away from my family, but I think this will be the last Thanksgiving that my step-father is alive, and I would like to see him and offer support to my mom. Plus I love to see my niece and nephews! So very mixed feelings, but on the other hand, I will have some one-on-one time with my son before I lose him to the military in January...
But right now, I can't think about that, or I'll get too anxious. So I'll focus on what I can get done today. It's a perfect day for movies, and I also bought a pumpkin at the store last night to carve. So I'll be doing some nice things for myself too.
Progress as of today: 55.5 lbs lost so far, only -5.5 lbs to go!
Yes, metabolism can change. Metabolism also increases I believe when you are sick. The body works to beat the illness and If I am correct the metabolism increases slightly. Also, I know you were cleaning up your house / attic so maybe that is extra exercise on top of your regular exercise? I have been extra hungry too & eating more and I somehow lately was able to beat any weight gain. Weird indeed. But thankful just like you are! Sometimes if you actually feel hungry, real desire for more white stuff (me too), it may actually be ok (I guess?) to listen to your body….i always do go back to the vegetables and lately I’m better than ever at learning to balance my eating and being able to eat more high cal items and learn to get full or order a drink to balance out the cal…I’m getting better and not always having to order a salad / vegetables and learning to eat more balanced…but still always use vegetables to counteract calories when I’m in the mood for them! Like you, I am not experiencing weight gain from small indulgences in treats. Good to know I can enjoy treats in moderation.
I’ve also had an MRI and yeah the sounds are pretty out there ! My fingers are crossed to know what the results are and that it is nothing too big…I also have some pain these days but I already know why – combo of lots of sitting, traveling, stress, extra walking, exercise, and not enough exercise….actually you just helped me figure out the main reason for my leg and back pain: CHANGING OF ROUTINE / getting off routine…thanks, J Donk….i am confident that as I settle back in, things will improve form me ! And the same for you..as you feel better, well then you’ll get back to your routine and things will be smoother for you too.
Why are you losing your health insurance? I think you need to have health insurance at your age????
To aid in your bathroom struggles, pickled items work for me as well as hot water with lemon or my favorite, that I drink most days – kombucha (but this is expensive drink).
For the first day ever this fall, it was cold this morning. Felt like serious NY winter almost in the mid 40’s. What a change from 80’s in Vegas! Now I’m glad we did go when we did…some extra sun before winter begins.
You will enjoy the slightly warm weather in vegas as opposed to your cooler weather by you….go and enjoy. I assume you will stay with them which is great. You’ll save quite a bit of cash….enjoy the weather and climate over there. Enjoy your family. No reason to get anxious but just like you, I do, before big events like a trip. But know that if you forget anything, you can buy it there. And you’ll be with family, not alone. Enjoy!
Difficulties...
My back is feeling so much better. My pain is almost all gone. But I can see in the mirror that I am crooked. My right side is higher than my left. So I still plan to go to the MRI on Thursday.
Despite the improvement, today was a difficult day, eating-wise... I got very anxious this afternoon at work, and I just could not stop myself from eating. I had my raw vegetables, a protein bar, and then finished my stash of almonds (about half a cup)! I knew, too, that I was eating for the wrong reason. I don't want to call it a binge, but it felt very familiar.
The initial problem was that my lunch was not substantial enough, which led to natural hunger, but then the afternoon rush at work kicked in, and there I went, of the deep end...
Needless to say, I'm suffering a bit of discomfort this evening, which hopefully will reconcile itself tomorrow morning.
Progress as of today: 53.5 lbs lost so far, only -3.5 lbs to go!
I'm feeling so anxious this morning... Too much going on, too many decisions to make, too many changes...
Good luck and I hope things settle down for you.
Up 2 pounds... thinking that might be due to the prednisone prescribed for my back. The medications prescribed to me at urgent care make me very thirsty. I've been craving sugar so much but have been resisting.
The pain killers have been helping but today I was delayed and the pain had returned. I finished my errands early, so that I can focus on my back. Just about done icing, then I will switch to heat, then I will do some stretches and some light walking.
I remain hopeful that this can be fixed. I must be healthy for my family, this cannot be my new normal...
MRI on Thursday... until then, just trying to make the best of things. One thing, though, that this has helped me really appreciate what my husband goes through on a daily basis with no hope of improvement.
God help us all..
Progress as of today: 53.5 lbs lost so far, only -3.5 lbs to go!
no, this will not be your normal normal unless you decide to settle. and you don't!
My fingers are crossed for you...good luck at MRI...feel better, keep your Donkey Head Up!
and yes, i know what you mean by it loosening your back...sitting all day has a tendency to make things rigid, yes. Good girl!
Taking Horn's advice and resting this week. No biking in the morning, no walking at lunch, no walk after dinner. Just resting, taking meds, and applying warm and cold to my back.
The physical therapist has been resetting my pelvic bone only to have it slip back into misalignment in an hour or so. So, I am going to the doctor's tomorrow.
Three pain killers and muscle relaxers are wonderful. I felt like I could bike and run no problem after my evening dosage kicked in. And I'm so ancy to get out and move! But if the problem isn't really fixed, I try to remind myself that I could actually do myself more harm.
We'll see how it goes tomorrow... Fingers crossed. This can't be my new normal...
Progress as of today: 55.5 lbs lost so far, only -5.5 lbs to go!
yes, let your body rest and don't exercise if you are taking the drugs just yet, wait to see how you feel when you aren't drugged!
take care, and keep on with your healing!
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Maintaining is harder than losing...it's easy to forget when you are maintaining.....don't be hard on yourself...we all have that problem at one time or another.
Maria7 on 11/04/2017:
I agree with Bear...Maintaining is definitely harder than losing...It is took easy to 'relax' when we get to goalweight...been there, done that 3 or 4 times.