What was the single most important thing I learned while on Optifast? Nutrition? Nope! Self discipline. Yet, as my one year anniversary with the Kaiser Medical Weight Loss program looms, I find my self discipline waning and temptations to be more and more tempting.
Especially recently.
Perhaps it is my heart, perhaps it is the weather, but I have been binging on sugar like it is no one's business! Last Friday it was soooo bad, that I put myself in the Emergency Room! (My body is hyper-sensitive with the pacemaker; so the sugar literally made me sick!)
After last's nights debacle with the Girl Scout cookies (5 Thin Mints, 3 Somoas, and 4 Lemon Chalet Creams), I spent some time this morning thinking about why. Why am I doing this to myself? Then, I flashed on last night's Biggest Loser, when Hannah weighed in at 201. She was about to break a barrier that had eluded her for a long time. She didn't look happy; she looked scared. I thought to myself, "This binge started when I got within 3 pounds of my goal weight!" I realized I was scared of making my goal, of what it would mean.
I realized it would mean I was done with this enormous endeavor that has given me so much positive self esteem, amazing friends, and a whole new outlook!
I realized it would mean I was no longer special. (That amazing Trav who lost all the weight!)
I realized that it would mean I would have to accept the fact that my exercise has to continue, even though I do not get the extrinsic reward of the scale going down.
I realized that it would mean success--something I have a hard time accepting. I don't like thinking of myself as successful, because I secretly think that I am never good enough for anything.
The great thing about Optifast is that you learn tools to help you get through these times. I mean, if you can eat not so delicious food for four months, you can do almost anything, right?
So, I applied the tools I learned while on product to these past couple of days to help me not go down a very dangerous path. The first thing that I have been doing to help mitigate and manage my binges (so, I do not land in the hospital again and address them head on) is to give myself a time limit. I will not eat anything past X time. I also write EVERYTHING down, so at least I can keep myself accountable. These techniques don't stop me from eating sugary snacks, but at least I am owning what is going in my mouth instead of ignoring it.
Today, I am reimplementing my personal eating rules: no snacks other than the ones I pack. No sugar Monday-Thursday. What I love about life is that everyday is a new day to treat yourself right! I will let you know if returning to stricter eating patterns helps me to avoid the binges!
I would love to be at my goal weight by March 7th--my anniversary with MWL. Let me know how you prevent or manage eating bad, bad stuff!
Okay...here are the numbers!
Starting weight: 234
Current weight: 147
Goal weight: 140
The goals:
Inner goal: staying in touch with the moment!
Outer goal: crossing the finish line at a half marathon!
Talk to you guys soon!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
The last ten pounds...
So, I finally weighed in at Kaiser for the first time since Christmas. Why? You may ask, did it take so, so, so very long! The answer: mysterious health problems!
So, ever since December 24th, the day of my big Christmas Eve bash (where I cooked amazingly delicious food! I will link the recipes on my recipe page!), I have been feeling run down and bad. In fact, I collapsed at school. I was so excited, the new me--healthy, fit, training for marathons for Pete's sake, was no longer a victim to her own bad habits. It turns out that Mother Nature had a different idea!
So, apparently, my heart started slowing down. After I lost all my weight, my resting heart rate was between 42-48 BPM, slow yes, but I was doing a lot of cardio! Then, at my hernia surgery in October, it was 36 BPM. Kaiser was worried, but since I was doing OK, they said they would keep an eye on things. By January, my BPM was 31 and dropping like a stone. By January 26, I could barely walk my usual 5K with my walking buddies! I almost passed out at the end! Finally, on January 28, during my Electrocardiogram, the technician suggested I go to the ER. My BPM had dropped to 27. That night, they put in my pacemaker.
The irony is that my excess weight was artificially raising my BPM and my blood pressure. So, I wouldn't have a pacemaker if I were still 235. However, I did avoid other health issues, and since this condition is genetic, I may have had to deal with it eventually while in poor health and at higher risk during surgery.
So, here is the kicker...I hadn't really lost any weight since my hernia surgery. Yes, I would fluctuate up and down, but these last ten pounds seem to be crawling off. Even my husband was perplexed; he couldn't figure out why someone who eats healthfully, low-cal, and exercises would suddenly gain five pounds for no discernible reason. Then I would lose 5.25 pounds the following week. It was the most frustrating three months of my life. It's one thing to loose .5 pounds in a month, it's another thing to wake up and be three pounds heavier than the day before, even though your habits have not changed! Yes, the net was a loss, but the dramatic fluctuations were taking a toll on me psychologically.
I sank into a deep depression. At one point, I just threw up my hands and starting eating whatever I wanted. It didn't seem to make that much of a difference, in all honesty! I still tracked everything; I just wasn't as strict. All that happened was that I gained four pounds. At one point, my family and friends started to really notice how down and low energy I was. I felt like no amount of sleep would help, and I dropped two of my exercise days out of my schedule. I was just too exhausted to wake up and go work out. So, of course, the lower exercise meant that my weight loss stopped.
During my last post, you can see that I really was trying to get back on track, but I seemed cursed by mysterious health problems. My sciatic nerve was acting up, I had shortness of breath, you name it! All those issues led me to the operating room and my new, mechanical heart.
So, what happened? Since my pacemaker was put in, I have lost three pounds! I lost five pounds the first week, but I was pretty dehydrated, so a lot was water. My husband thinks that my low heart rate was suppressing my metabolic rate, and my body was undergoing so much stress, it was reluctant to shed any pounds. Indeed, I have walked twice since my surgery, and have felt tired but good (not like I am going to pass out!). My goal is to get my walking mileage up, then start running again in March--after my doctor clears me of course!
I think, sometimes, those of us who lose weight think that it will solve many (if not all) of our problems. Secretly, I thought that once I lost weight, I would never have to worry about my health again. I felt invincible and in control. As we all know, when you feel like nothing can touch you, that's when life shows you otherwise. The best thing I learned from this whole experience is that it is important to stick to your goals, even when things are not going well. I leaned on my husband for support, trying stay on track. When I fell off, I took the next day seriously--really being honest with myself and my feelings. It was hard, hard, hard. However, I really don't want to be overweight again.
These last ten pounds...they will come off, but my life will still be there. I will still be here, and after last week, I am very, very grateful for that!
Okay...here are the goals:
Inner goal: personal honesty
Outer goal: Catherine Deneuve in Cat People!
The numbers:
Starting weight: 234
Current weight: 146.5
Goal weight: 140
See you guys soon!
So, ever since December 24th, the day of my big Christmas Eve bash (where I cooked amazingly delicious food! I will link the recipes on my recipe page!), I have been feeling run down and bad. In fact, I collapsed at school. I was so excited, the new me--healthy, fit, training for marathons for Pete's sake, was no longer a victim to her own bad habits. It turns out that Mother Nature had a different idea!
So, apparently, my heart started slowing down. After I lost all my weight, my resting heart rate was between 42-48 BPM, slow yes, but I was doing a lot of cardio! Then, at my hernia surgery in October, it was 36 BPM. Kaiser was worried, but since I was doing OK, they said they would keep an eye on things. By January, my BPM was 31 and dropping like a stone. By January 26, I could barely walk my usual 5K with my walking buddies! I almost passed out at the end! Finally, on January 28, during my Electrocardiogram, the technician suggested I go to the ER. My BPM had dropped to 27. That night, they put in my pacemaker.
The irony is that my excess weight was artificially raising my BPM and my blood pressure. So, I wouldn't have a pacemaker if I were still 235. However, I did avoid other health issues, and since this condition is genetic, I may have had to deal with it eventually while in poor health and at higher risk during surgery.
So, here is the kicker...I hadn't really lost any weight since my hernia surgery. Yes, I would fluctuate up and down, but these last ten pounds seem to be crawling off. Even my husband was perplexed; he couldn't figure out why someone who eats healthfully, low-cal, and exercises would suddenly gain five pounds for no discernible reason. Then I would lose 5.25 pounds the following week. It was the most frustrating three months of my life. It's one thing to loose .5 pounds in a month, it's another thing to wake up and be three pounds heavier than the day before, even though your habits have not changed! Yes, the net was a loss, but the dramatic fluctuations were taking a toll on me psychologically.
I sank into a deep depression. At one point, I just threw up my hands and starting eating whatever I wanted. It didn't seem to make that much of a difference, in all honesty! I still tracked everything; I just wasn't as strict. All that happened was that I gained four pounds. At one point, my family and friends started to really notice how down and low energy I was. I felt like no amount of sleep would help, and I dropped two of my exercise days out of my schedule. I was just too exhausted to wake up and go work out. So, of course, the lower exercise meant that my weight loss stopped.
During my last post, you can see that I really was trying to get back on track, but I seemed cursed by mysterious health problems. My sciatic nerve was acting up, I had shortness of breath, you name it! All those issues led me to the operating room and my new, mechanical heart.
So, what happened? Since my pacemaker was put in, I have lost three pounds! I lost five pounds the first week, but I was pretty dehydrated, so a lot was water. My husband thinks that my low heart rate was suppressing my metabolic rate, and my body was undergoing so much stress, it was reluctant to shed any pounds. Indeed, I have walked twice since my surgery, and have felt tired but good (not like I am going to pass out!). My goal is to get my walking mileage up, then start running again in March--after my doctor clears me of course!
I think, sometimes, those of us who lose weight think that it will solve many (if not all) of our problems. Secretly, I thought that once I lost weight, I would never have to worry about my health again. I felt invincible and in control. As we all know, when you feel like nothing can touch you, that's when life shows you otherwise. The best thing I learned from this whole experience is that it is important to stick to your goals, even when things are not going well. I leaned on my husband for support, trying stay on track. When I fell off, I took the next day seriously--really being honest with myself and my feelings. It was hard, hard, hard. However, I really don't want to be overweight again.
These last ten pounds...they will come off, but my life will still be there. I will still be here, and after last week, I am very, very grateful for that!
Okay...here are the goals:
Inner goal: personal honesty
Outer goal: Catherine Deneuve in Cat People!
The numbers:
Starting weight: 234
Current weight: 146.5
Goal weight: 140
See you guys soon!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Post Christmas Update--Sugar Shame Spiral!
Well...the Holidays are finally over! I don't know about you, but it was certainly difficult passing up all the goodies. I did well most of December, but gave in to temptation over vacation! As a result, my weight wildly fluctuated the last two weeks, culminating in this morning's tragic weigh in!
Things about sugar that I did not know before vacation and now I do:
1. The insulin spike that sugar causes also causes you to retain sodium and, therefore, water.
2. Sugar is a self perpetuating snack--meaning that it tricks your body into thinking you need to eat more sugar after you have something sweet--even if it is a non-sugar sweetener.
3. Insulin spikes cause glycerol to chemical bond to lipids, then transports those lipids to your fat cells (triglycerides, they're called). Triglycerides are difficult to breakdown and transport out of a fat cell. So, lots of sugar means lots and lots of extra poundage!
Things that help mitigate insulin spikes:
1. Not eating processed sugars or grains.
2. Eating sugar with fiber (i.e. whole fruits or grains)
3. Eating sugar with protein (eat some turkey with that cookie!)
How to recover from a Sugar Shame Spiral:
1. Write everything down in your journal, so you know what you are eating and what your triggers are.
2. Drink LOTS OF WATER and herbal tea (I enjoy Smooth Move, since it helps the GI tract. Peppermint is good too!).
3. Eat leafy green veggies and protein --avoid sugary foods--even fruit and lactose--for a day or two. Let your body manage the excess sugar you've put into it.
4. Don't give into negative feelings. It's just food, not a moral crisis. Eat well and love yourself!
The Goals:
Inner Goal: Go into Shame Recovery...and WORLD PEACE!
Outer Goal: Still shooting for Heidi Klum...a girl can dream!
The Numbers:
Starting Weight: 224
Current Weight: 150
Goal Weight: 140
Things about sugar that I did not know before vacation and now I do:
1. The insulin spike that sugar causes also causes you to retain sodium and, therefore, water.
2. Sugar is a self perpetuating snack--meaning that it tricks your body into thinking you need to eat more sugar after you have something sweet--even if it is a non-sugar sweetener.
3. Insulin spikes cause glycerol to chemical bond to lipids, then transports those lipids to your fat cells (triglycerides, they're called). Triglycerides are difficult to breakdown and transport out of a fat cell. So, lots of sugar means lots and lots of extra poundage!
Things that help mitigate insulin spikes:
1. Not eating processed sugars or grains.
2. Eating sugar with fiber (i.e. whole fruits or grains)
3. Eating sugar with protein (eat some turkey with that cookie!)
How to recover from a Sugar Shame Spiral:
1. Write everything down in your journal, so you know what you are eating and what your triggers are.
2. Drink LOTS OF WATER and herbal tea (I enjoy Smooth Move, since it helps the GI tract. Peppermint is good too!).
3. Eat leafy green veggies and protein --avoid sugary foods--even fruit and lactose--for a day or two. Let your body manage the excess sugar you've put into it.
4. Don't give into negative feelings. It's just food, not a moral crisis. Eat well and love yourself!
The Goals:
Inner Goal: Go into Shame Recovery...and WORLD PEACE!
Outer Goal: Still shooting for Heidi Klum...a girl can dream!
The Numbers:
Starting Weight: 224
Current Weight: 150
Goal Weight: 140
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Checking In and....HELLO the HOLIDAYS!
Update:
So, I've gotten a few emails about why I haven't written in a while. The short answer is that my MWL group hasn't met in a while!
No worries though, I have been steadily losing or maintaining my weight! I am currently hovering between 148-150. As we all know, the closer to your goal, the longer it takes.
Many people have also been asking me about my post-Optifast food plan. In general, I eat between 1200-1500 calories a day. Even on Thanksgiving, I did not go over 1650. Of those calories, I eat a minimum of 25 grams of fiber a day, but shoot for 35 grams. I also eat a minimum of five fruits and vegetables everyday--usually more. I eat four ounces of lean protein every day. I also eat three-four servings of non-fat dairy a day. I take a multi-vitamin, vitamin C and vitamin D everyday. 12 glasses of water, 8 of which AT MINIMUM is just water. I generally avoid sugar, butter, etc...but try to eat good fats to support brain health.
THIS FOOD PLAN IS ONE THAT I DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH MY HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TEAM, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR DIET. Please.
Basically, I treat everyday as a new day. I recommit myself to my program. I am training for a half marathon in February, so I train for that five days a week. (Feel free to be my friend on dailymile.com!) I also try to do one exercise class a week.
Sigh.... The Holidays....or....YAY! The Holidays!
So, you may ask...how did I get through Thanksgiving eating all day, what most people eat during the appetizer portion of the night? Good question! First of all, I ate breakfast, snack, and lunch. By the time dinner was ready, I was ready for dinner--not a huge feast. Although breakfast was a post walk brunch at a friends, where nothing was low fat except the fruit salad, I used my knowledge of portion size to eat healthfully and enjoy myself!
After the brunch (where I ate a 1/2 portion of the best quiche I have ever had!, 1 cup of fruit salad, and two tablespoons of regular honey greek yogurt), I looked everything up on my BlackBerry and wrote down the calories in my food journal. My attitude was this--I don't care what the calories are, I just want to write them down. I fully expected to eat far more calories than usual--I just wasn't going to eat whatever--I wanted to be careful! Lunch was my usual yogurt and veggie sandwich. Dinner was the--yes I said it---the low fat Thanksgiving my mother in law and I cooked up. So, slightly unfair advantage compared to my dieting friends in the trenches, but there are many things to eat at Christmas and Thanksgiving that are not fattening: roast turkey, roasted vegetables, and salad. No one is forcing anyone to eat mashed potatoes. You also don't have to eat a ton of something. One tablespoon of anything is fine, but don't eat 35 tablespoons. If you don't want to know the calorie count of something, you shouldn't eat it!
Okay...one more thing...dessert. If you love dessert, the way I love it, eat it! What is sooooo great is that if you skip all the stuff you really don't want to eat, like extra appetizers, seconds, etc...you can have your 350 calorie slice of pumpkin pie! Seriously, eat what you want--not what is put in front of you, or what are you are eating to look busy, or what you are eating to avoid talking to that weird third cousin who "jokingly" hits on you every year.
Needless to say, if you "drink it, ink it; you you bite it, write it." If you write everything down and it comes to 4,000 calories--at least you know! So, when the scale creeps up, you know why. Everyday is a new day. That's what is so wonderful about life!
The key to successful holidays is making your needs known and eliciting support for your goals. Tell friends and family that there need to be some options for you or offer to bring some. Your friends and family love you, and most of them will be more than willing to help you.
Here are the goals:
Inner goal: stop the self criticism and acknowledge my successes
Outer goal: to look fabulous at the annual Christmas Party!
Here are the numbers:
Starting weight: 225
Current weight: 149
Goal weight: 140
See you next time!
So, I've gotten a few emails about why I haven't written in a while. The short answer is that my MWL group hasn't met in a while!
No worries though, I have been steadily losing or maintaining my weight! I am currently hovering between 148-150. As we all know, the closer to your goal, the longer it takes.
Many people have also been asking me about my post-Optifast food plan. In general, I eat between 1200-1500 calories a day. Even on Thanksgiving, I did not go over 1650. Of those calories, I eat a minimum of 25 grams of fiber a day, but shoot for 35 grams. I also eat a minimum of five fruits and vegetables everyday--usually more. I eat four ounces of lean protein every day. I also eat three-four servings of non-fat dairy a day. I take a multi-vitamin, vitamin C and vitamin D everyday. 12 glasses of water, 8 of which AT MINIMUM is just water. I generally avoid sugar, butter, etc...but try to eat good fats to support brain health.
THIS FOOD PLAN IS ONE THAT I DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH MY HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TEAM, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR DIET. Please.
Basically, I treat everyday as a new day. I recommit myself to my program. I am training for a half marathon in February, so I train for that five days a week. (Feel free to be my friend on dailymile.com!) I also try to do one exercise class a week.
Sigh.... The Holidays....or....YAY! The Holidays!
So, you may ask...how did I get through Thanksgiving eating all day, what most people eat during the appetizer portion of the night? Good question! First of all, I ate breakfast, snack, and lunch. By the time dinner was ready, I was ready for dinner--not a huge feast. Although breakfast was a post walk brunch at a friends, where nothing was low fat except the fruit salad, I used my knowledge of portion size to eat healthfully and enjoy myself!
After the brunch (where I ate a 1/2 portion of the best quiche I have ever had!, 1 cup of fruit salad, and two tablespoons of regular honey greek yogurt), I looked everything up on my BlackBerry and wrote down the calories in my food journal. My attitude was this--I don't care what the calories are, I just want to write them down. I fully expected to eat far more calories than usual--I just wasn't going to eat whatever--I wanted to be careful! Lunch was my usual yogurt and veggie sandwich. Dinner was the--yes I said it---the low fat Thanksgiving my mother in law and I cooked up. So, slightly unfair advantage compared to my dieting friends in the trenches, but there are many things to eat at Christmas and Thanksgiving that are not fattening: roast turkey, roasted vegetables, and salad. No one is forcing anyone to eat mashed potatoes. You also don't have to eat a ton of something. One tablespoon of anything is fine, but don't eat 35 tablespoons. If you don't want to know the calorie count of something, you shouldn't eat it!
Okay...one more thing...dessert. If you love dessert, the way I love it, eat it! What is sooooo great is that if you skip all the stuff you really don't want to eat, like extra appetizers, seconds, etc...you can have your 350 calorie slice of pumpkin pie! Seriously, eat what you want--not what is put in front of you, or what are you are eating to look busy, or what you are eating to avoid talking to that weird third cousin who "jokingly" hits on you every year.
Needless to say, if you "drink it, ink it; you you bite it, write it." If you write everything down and it comes to 4,000 calories--at least you know! So, when the scale creeps up, you know why. Everyday is a new day. That's what is so wonderful about life!
The key to successful holidays is making your needs known and eliciting support for your goals. Tell friends and family that there need to be some options for you or offer to bring some. Your friends and family love you, and most of them will be more than willing to help you.
Here are the goals:
Inner goal: stop the self criticism and acknowledge my successes
Outer goal: to look fabulous at the annual Christmas Party!
Here are the numbers:
Starting weight: 225
Current weight: 149
Goal weight: 140
See you next time!
Friday, November 26, 2010
It's been a while...
So, it's been a while!
When my transition stopped, I wasn't really sure what to write about or if people would be interested. I am still losing weight, but it's fairly slow!
However, the coming and going of Thanksgiving got me in the mood to reflect and share what I've been thinking about.
When I woke up this morning, it was a good day! After days of staying the same weight, I am down a couple of pounds.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Surgery, Weight Loss, and Chocolate Pudding...
So, of course, right as I am trying to lose these last fifteen pounds, I have to go into a surgery to get my hernias fixed. That means weeks of little to no exercise, plus two weeks of forced inactivity with the constant temptation of chocolate pudding at every moment! Sigh. Double sigh.
Here's the kicker...when I went into surgery I was 156, next morning while I was in the Emergency Room for unexpected bleeding, I was 166.5. I almost burst into tears! It took me two months to lose those ten and half pounds, and now! now! now! THEY WERE ALL BACK! Thank goodness my mother was there to talk me off my psychological ledge. My mom assured me that it was all water, yadda, yadda, yadda....however all I felt was this buzzing in my head. However, moms are always right, and the weight came off over the next week.
Despite all the surgery drama, I still managed to lose four pounds since my last weigh in at Kaiser (which is now every two weeks). So, I have officially lost 70 pounds since March, which is pretty darn cool! Now, I am 14.5 pounds away from my goal weight, my fat percentage is in the "acceptable" range, and my BMI is close to normal.
Some interesting things I learned in my weight loss support groups these past few weeks:
Fiber is key. Apparently, if you eat 35 grams of fiber a day, it helps curb hunger and promotes weight loss.
It's really important to take one day at a time. One bad day or bad decision does not negate all your hard work.
It's okay to give yourself a break. It was hard for me to accept that I had to take time to heal. However, beating myself up because I couldn't exercise just makes exercise seem like an obligation, not something fun. Being positive helps you stay focused on what's important, taking care of yourself.
So...here are the numbers:
Starting weight: 224
Current weight: 154.5
Goal weight: 140
Goal time!
Outer goal: A young Ingrid Bergman...okay a middle-aged Ingrid Bergman!
Inner goal: To find the strength to walk my 5K on Halloween....and World Peace!
Here's the kicker...when I went into surgery I was 156, next morning while I was in the Emergency Room for unexpected bleeding, I was 166.5. I almost burst into tears! It took me two months to lose those ten and half pounds, and now! now! now! THEY WERE ALL BACK! Thank goodness my mother was there to talk me off my psychological ledge. My mom assured me that it was all water, yadda, yadda, yadda....however all I felt was this buzzing in my head. However, moms are always right, and the weight came off over the next week.
Despite all the surgery drama, I still managed to lose four pounds since my last weigh in at Kaiser (which is now every two weeks). So, I have officially lost 70 pounds since March, which is pretty darn cool! Now, I am 14.5 pounds away from my goal weight, my fat percentage is in the "acceptable" range, and my BMI is close to normal.
Some interesting things I learned in my weight loss support groups these past few weeks:
Fiber is key. Apparently, if you eat 35 grams of fiber a day, it helps curb hunger and promotes weight loss.
It's really important to take one day at a time. One bad day or bad decision does not negate all your hard work.
It's okay to give yourself a break. It was hard for me to accept that I had to take time to heal. However, beating myself up because I couldn't exercise just makes exercise seem like an obligation, not something fun. Being positive helps you stay focused on what's important, taking care of yourself.
So...here are the numbers:
Starting weight: 224
Current weight: 154.5
Goal weight: 140
Goal time!
Outer goal: A young Ingrid Bergman...okay a middle-aged Ingrid Bergman!
Inner goal: To find the strength to walk my 5K on Halloween....and World Peace!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Maintenance?
So, my official maintenance period starts for my Medical Weight Loss Program! Yay!
However, I still want to lose 18 pounds, so I feel like I am still in my "transition" phase. The good news is that I lost 1/2 a pound since my last weigh in.
I've added 50-100 calories a day into my diet, and I am trying to reach a goal of 35 grams of fiber a day. So, far I am getting in 31-40 grams--yay! A friend turned me on to the Fiber 35 Diet, which I am not following to a "T," but certainly am inspired by. I am primarily adding in whole grains, to up the fiber and calories.
If any of you have tried this diet, let me know! I am curious how it has worked for you.
Okay, I am not complaining here, just commenting. I am seriously shocked at the enormous difference in sizes across different stores. I mean, I am officially still overweight, but I am a "Medium" for most of the discount stores. How can I be an "extra large" if I buy a pattern at the fabric store, but a "medium" at Target? Also, even numbered sizes seem to make no sense. I have size tens that are falling off of me, but 12's and 14's that still fit. It just seems so strange! I have heard of "vanity sizing," but this is ridiculous! I can't just pop into a store and trust that a "large" or 12 or whatever means anything! Okay, I lied...I am complaining! Guys, let's standardize a little, please! It's no fun being a "medium," if just means I am actually a large who has delusions of thinness!
At any rate, I am heading into surgery on Tuesday to fix my hernias (which this whole experience was supposed to help), so I am faced with two weeks of forced inactivity and boredom. Can we say weight loss landmine? Fortunately, my mom is here to help me out, so perhaps she will keep me away from my boredom eating. However, I am hoping to get lots of reading and writing done. It will be a great opportunity to update my recipes and write some poetry!
So, here are the numbers:
Starting weight: 235
Goal weight: 140
Current weight: 158
Goal time!
Inner goal: strength to avoid the fridge while recovering!
Outer goal: to be a true medium!
See you next week!
However, I still want to lose 18 pounds, so I feel like I am still in my "transition" phase. The good news is that I lost 1/2 a pound since my last weigh in.
I've added 50-100 calories a day into my diet, and I am trying to reach a goal of 35 grams of fiber a day. So, far I am getting in 31-40 grams--yay! A friend turned me on to the Fiber 35 Diet, which I am not following to a "T," but certainly am inspired by. I am primarily adding in whole grains, to up the fiber and calories.
If any of you have tried this diet, let me know! I am curious how it has worked for you.
Okay, I am not complaining here, just commenting. I am seriously shocked at the enormous difference in sizes across different stores. I mean, I am officially still overweight, but I am a "Medium" for most of the discount stores. How can I be an "extra large" if I buy a pattern at the fabric store, but a "medium" at Target? Also, even numbered sizes seem to make no sense. I have size tens that are falling off of me, but 12's and 14's that still fit. It just seems so strange! I have heard of "vanity sizing," but this is ridiculous! I can't just pop into a store and trust that a "large" or 12 or whatever means anything! Okay, I lied...I am complaining! Guys, let's standardize a little, please! It's no fun being a "medium," if just means I am actually a large who has delusions of thinness!
At any rate, I am heading into surgery on Tuesday to fix my hernias (which this whole experience was supposed to help), so I am faced with two weeks of forced inactivity and boredom. Can we say weight loss landmine? Fortunately, my mom is here to help me out, so perhaps she will keep me away from my boredom eating. However, I am hoping to get lots of reading and writing done. It will be a great opportunity to update my recipes and write some poetry!
So, here are the numbers:
Starting weight: 235
Goal weight: 140
Current weight: 158
Goal time!
Inner goal: strength to avoid the fridge while recovering!
Outer goal: to be a true medium!
See you next week!
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