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It has been a rough week. This will not be the update that I hoped to give this week. I have been stuffing myself with food to deal with my emotions and the stresses that have been in my life. I have found that even though I know the Atkin's Plan does work when I can stick to it, I just can't stick to the restrictiveness of it at this time. When in doubt, go back to the beginning. So, I am going back to the weight loss surgery diet that got me to my lowest weight a few months ago. It is low carb, fairly low fat, low calorie and high protein. It is the plan that got me to a loss of over 180 pounds. It worked for me before, it will work for me again if I can stick with it. The major change I will make will be in logging every bite of food that goes into my mouth. I have Fitday PC on my computer and I intend to make use of it again. I don't know if I will have the energy to post all my food here but I will try to at least post the totals for each day: calories, fat, carbs, and protein. Ideally, I would start this today, but Bethany and I are going to a movie today and I have no faith in my ability to avoid some popcorn. I will try to portion control and get just a small container for us to share and I will stick to plan for the rest of the day. Tomorrow, I will begin in earnest. I will keep myself at home and away from outside temptations until I can get a handle on things. My willpower is lacking and my give a damn is still busted but I am working on that. Here are my stats for this week:
Weight: 168
Waist: 34
Hips: 44
I have gained 1 pound since last week and am up a total of 6 pounds since the week before. Not a stellar showing is it? My waist is 1/2 inch down and my hips are an inch down. In spite of the gain, I seem to be losing inches. I guess my leftover fat is readjusting. I don't doubt that the gain will be showing around my middle soon if I don't do something SOON. I am very frustrated with myself. I wish I had another way of dealing with my emotions. Food has always been my drug of choice. It is an addiction that always flares during the most stressful times in my life. I can't keep allowing myself to be twisted about like a reed in the wind though. I need to gain some kind of control. It is time to set my mind to the task at hand and to ask for help from the people who know what to do. I'm going to contact my surgeon's support group. Also, it is almost time for me to see my surgeon for my yearly checkup. Hopefully though I will get thing in control before seeing him. That appointment isn't until February. I really need help before then. I will be grateful for any support the other challengers can offer. My buddy is doing great with encouraging me but she works a lot and there are a lot of hours a day where I am in the house with nothing to do but eat. I will be glad when the weather is better and my husband and I can get back to hiking. Right now the weather is abysmal.
Exercise has been almost nonexistent this week. Bethany and I managed to get in two days of working out for a bit but then we slacked off. I really need a kick in the pants to get moving. I'm really ashamed of being so sedentary.
I visited my buddy's blog every time she posted and I spoke to her on the phone every day. I saw her almost every day. She is a big help and she is doing well. I have tried to encourage her even though I am struggling.
I tried to get to everyone's blogs this week. I think I got everyone. There were a few times when blogger wouldn't let me comment but I think I got to everyone at least once.
I didn't get much reading done since I finished A Walk In The Sunshine. I am reading through it again and I also got a new book for my Kindle called Wheat Belly. I haven't started it yet but hope to get to it tonight. I have just been too anxious to read, really. I will do better next week.
"Dare you to move, dare you to move, dare you to lift yourself up off the floor." Switchfoot
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." John Lennon
Sunshine
DAY 73 MONDAY MAR 5, 2012
17 minutes ago
Sometimes it's so hard figuring out what works for us!!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I did when I have time on my hands and it makes me want to eat is to make a list of things you can do instead of eat: paint you nails, dance to music, tidy a draw, have a nice long bath with candles and music, go for a walk, read a book etc. Whatever works for you :)
You are so right, Suzy. That is a good suggestion. I will try to make a list later today and blog about it. Surely there are things I can do to keep me from eating.
ReplyDeleteI think going to what you know will work is the right thing to do. I always think these "onesided" diets are too unrealistic. You can stick to them for a short time, but in the end we all want those carbs or fats. Hope it goes well for you this week. P.s. Posting from an ipad now, so hopefuly my comments will go through
ReplyDeleteThank you, Betty. It came through just fine! I agree that one-sided diets usually don't work forever. However, I do believe in limiting carbs so my plan is a modified version of Atkins. I just think that I have also been adding too much fat. I need some of both but not excessive amounts of either. Atkins was working. I just couldn't stick with it forever. So if I'm going to add back in some carbs, I'm going to have to cut back on the fat. I believe the science is sound but that it doesn't always work out in practice. Maybe when I get my emotional state under control, I can go back to the stricter plan.
ReplyDeleteI love Suzi's idea! I'm totally going to do that! :)I've got to prep myself for boredom eating. Usually for me it's reading. MAN I love a good book.
ReplyDeleteWhat about before you snack on anything, drink a full glass of water? It will reduce how much room you have in your stomach for bingeing. It will also keep you OVER hydrated if you're eating too much.
I like that you had Dail shop for you so if you do snack on something, it's not crazy horrible... (left over pizza or candy, chips, etc).
Time to start searching for projects and motivation. What makes you feel good when you're done? Cleaning? Crafting? Writing a letter? Journaling? Reading? exercising? creating a meal plan? Writing a list (of anything really, books to read, movies to watch, things to do, happy lists, things you're grateful for)?
I try to drink water before my meals though technically I am not supposed to because of my surgery. Water can take up space where food that would keep me satiated for longer would be. I know it sounds crazy but because my stomach is smaller than usual, I get full too fast sometimes when I drink water and then get hungry again too soon.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely time to find something to interest. I do have some things I like to do and want to participate in but the weather is not permitting it right now. My husband and I are planning overnight back country hiking and camping. We have all the equipment etc, it is just that it is cold and rainy here now and it will probably be March or April before we can really get out there. Of course, I can be training on the treadmill. It is just that I get bored with walking on the treadmill. I do better when I have a buddy pushing. My daughter is going to come over to give me some motivation this week.
Thanks for all your suggestion. You gave me some great ideas. :)
It seems like you tend to eat out of loneliness and boredom. Is there somewhere you could volunteer that would give you something to do and people to be around when your husband is not at home?
ReplyDeleteI think your original diet is better for you and you have a greater chance of keeping the weight off in the long run. As for movie popcorn, are you crazy?!? Pop some low calorie popcorn at home and take that with you. Fruit cut into bite size pieces works well for movie snacks too!
The problem with volunteering someplace is that we only have one car and it is a company car. I don't drive anymore and even if I did, I don't have anything to drive. Dail works most days from 6 am to 6 or 7 pm. As you can imagine, it is very hard for me to get to appointments or anything regularly. I do eat out of boredom but mostly this is only true in the winter when I am more depressed. Hopefully, things will be better when spring gets here and I can get outside in the sunshine.
ReplyDeleteWe are a one car family as well so I totally understand! Hmmm, what else could we come up with to help you not feel so lonely... I could send you my 16 yr. old son, he creates plenty to keep me busy! I would be more than happy to share! *wink* Do you like to craft or make jewelry or anything?
ReplyDeleteI'm a "fat hoarder" genetic type, so a high fat/low carb wouldn't work for me. When I used to SparkPeople consistently in my main losing phase in 2010 and early 2011, I noticed I lost best when I got closer to 40-30-30 (or even 35-35-30). I need to organize myself to get back in that sweet spot. :) If I have too much fat, not good. If I have too much starch, not good. I do better with more protein, little to no starch, a decent amount of carbs (not exceeding 30 to 40% of diet), and some healthy fat for flavor and good health.
ReplyDeleteIt's just easy to get sidetracked and get lazy. Sigh.
I think y ou meant 34 and 44 for your measures, not 134/144. ; )
I substituted anime and manga for food addiction. Seriously, I tried to figure out what I'd do INSTEAD of eating that didn't have calories and was easily accessible to me at all times, and that was it. I read or watch instead of eating binge or mindless eating. I mean, I can't eat a whole lotta calories without regain, so I gotta find the diversion. You'll find yours...look for it. Might be some hobby or bird-watching while walking or painting..you'll find something to keep hands busy.
On we go...
Thanks, Eaba. I do like some crafting and I am taking a college class as well but sometimes my disorder leaves me unable to function as well as I should. The boredom and loneliness comes from that. I should look for something to do with my hands though. That would help a lot.:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the correction, Princess. I will edit my post. I am so absent-minded! We must have similar losing styles as what works for you seems to what works best for me too. I have to keep my carbs minimal but I can manage a fair amount of fat, not a lot and I do better when I keep my protein high. It will be tough to get back into logging again. Thanks for coming by, Mir. I appreciate the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the kitchen a lot and with food always there, it's been hard not popping something into my mouth whenever I walk through. What helps me, will of course not work for everyone and we all need to find what keeps us away from the extra calories. You've gotten alot of great suggestions here!
ReplyDeleteHave a good week!
Casey, I have trouble munching on junk if I keep it in the house. I am trying to get the cupboards cleaned out. Hubby and son could both stand to lose a little too. I know what to do, it is just MAKING myself do it that is hard.
ReplyDeleteI think you need a hobby. One that keeps your hands and mind busy!
ReplyDeleteWhen you go to the movies, ask your buddy to keep you accountable. This is hard if you do it alone!
And I have to keep reminding myself, this is not a diet, this is a lifestle change! Heres to a successful week!!
You are probably right. It is just that I am too depressed to do much of anything these days. Once spring gets here there will be more enthusiasm and activity.
ReplyDeleteSometimes those restrictive diets are just triggers, maybe give yourself the option to eat some carbs in moderation so that you're not feeling that restriction:-)
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a trigger to me to be overly restrictive. I'm allowing a few more carbs but still restricting them more than most people on traditional low fat diets would.
ReplyDelete