Shrinking Violets
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You guys are great. Really! Thank you!!!
It's tough. I grew up in a family where the food budget was almost non-existent. Our teeth and health suffered due to lack of milk and fruits. When we were old enough, my two brothers and I would earn money doing chores for neighbors in order to buy groceries. We were also encouraged to spend nights/weekends with friends where we would be fed. It's no wonder that food became a security blanket for all three of us. I understand it, but letting go of it is another matter.
Losing weight would be so much easier if it wasn't necessary for our survival. I quit smoking almost 10 years ago, and that was easy compared to this. With smoking, it's all or none; you either smoke, or you don't. It doesn't work that way with food. Moderation is essential, along with good food choices. That's where I struggle. I can't just quit eating. LOL
RTDice, YES, that is a lot of water!!! Although I did find that I felt better when I was on top of it. I let it slide for a few days this week, but I'm back at it again. :drinker:
Great advice FlaxMilk. Thank you!0 -
Sounds really tough, Willow. I'm going to suggest you try loving compassion mindfulness with yourself. It is what it is. We found a kitty who was nearly starved to death. For years, she compulsively overate and sought food. We did our best to keep her weight under control, but with multiple cats, she often found ways to eat more than her share. She got pretty big for awhile. After several years, her weight began to normalize and we realized that she wasn't overeating or desperately pleading for food all the time. My theory: cats don't judge themselves. Her biological imperative was: near death once, get while the getting is good now, never be that way again. She ate and ate until she gradually rerouted herself to realize she doesn't need to. She trusts that she will be taken care of.
Obviously as a human you are capable of more insight, but that doesn't mean the insight has to be judging. Instead of thinking, "I've got to let go of this etc" try, "I know why my body and brain responds the way they do. I didn't have what my body needed when it was young. I have what I need now. I will take care of my body by giving it what it needs, no more and no less. I will be compassionate with myself when my body tries to panic and gentle with myself if I take in more than I need. I'm not hurting anyone. I'm not bad. My body is not bad. If I am good to my body and mind, my body and mind will be good to me."
Pema Chodron is a fantastic author on the topic of loving kindness to one's self. She really helps to understand the difference between indulgence and kindness.0 -
FlaxMilk, I will look up that author. It sounds like what I need. Retraining our brains is quite a process, but I know it can be done. I've been working hard at changing my 'mindset of poverty'. I used to get really upset when the last of anything got used up and I didn't have a replacement on hand.... be it toothpaste, shampoo, cereal, etc. I had to adopt the mantras of "I will always be able to buy more" and "There is more at the store." Still working on it, but for the most part it is ingrained now. With all things, it takes time, and tools. Thanks to you, I just got another one.0
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Hi All!!
A small loss this week which I will take. I'm not tracking for some reason. Not making real bad choices but I wonder if I really tracked, would I be over KWIM?
Good luck everyone!!!!!0 -
I suspected I would gain this week, and I did. I'm still down 3 pounds from my starting weight though, so that's a plus! So far it looks like everyone is doing really well. YAY Team!0
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.5 loss for me. To be honest, the only way I'll ever get 2 lbs a week is some water weight fluke, so I'm content if the scale just keeps on the decline.
3 lbs down is awesome! Good work everyone!0 -
Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to see how everyone's week is going. Hope you are all doing ok.
Cheers,
Graham.0 -
Well, team, I don't know the mechanism by which Prednisone causes weight gain, but I'm here to say, IT DOES. I'm hoping it's water weight, but I've gained a crazy amount of weight this week. Tomorrow's weigh-in should be ridiculously bad unless I lose about 9 lbs of water weight today. Seriously.0
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I hear ya FlaxMilk. I was recently put on Prednisone and have gained at least 3 lbs so far
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Yes, Prednisone will definitely cause weight gain. I'm not sure why. It also has other side effects that are not so much fun.
After researching one of my meds, I discovered my antidepressant can cause cravings for sweets. =(0 -
I weighed in this morning and the number was a little less than the week before. Not as much as I'd like, but I'll take it.
My goal for this week is to chart my food every day and keep up with my water intake.
Good luck everyone, and don't stress over the scale. If you're still here then you're moving in the right direction.0 -
Sorry to hear that Flax, here the wikipeadia info on the stuff :Side-effects
Short-term side-effects, as with all glucocorticoids, include high blood glucose levels (especially in patients with diabetes mellitus or on other medications that increase blood glucose, such as tacrolimus) and mineralocorticoid effects such as fluid retention. The mineralocorticoid effects of prednisone are minor, which is why it is not used in the management of adrenal insufficiency, unless a more potent mineralocorticoid is administered concomitantly.
Additional short-term side-effects can include insomnia, euphoria and, rarely, mania (in particular, in those suffering from bipolar disorder).[citation needed] It can also cause depression or depressive symptoms and anxiety in some individuals.
Long-term side-effects include Cushing's syndrome, steroid dementia syndrome, truncal weight gain, osteoporosis, glaucoma and cataracts, type II diabetes mellitus, and depression upon dose reduction or cessation
Hopefully it is short term fluid retention. (fingers crossed)0 -
My goal for this week is to chart my food every day and keep up with my water intake.
I maybe a broken record willowfrosty: those possibly the two most important things to do when blasting off the pounds. CBA has always been my downfall, and the reason why things in the past didn't work. The MFP app is a great way as I just do it as I eat it. (give or take a few minutes, it would be rude in company, but as soon as possible after eating), even if I don't have internet I can get things recorded and it will sync back to the mothership when a connection is found.
Seeing it there how much I've eaten and how many cals I have left for the rest of the day really focuses the choices I make. So good on you for focusing on your logging!!
oh and that 'water your body' app is still kicking my butt to drink more. I wonder if the short trips to the loo are showing on my daily step count!0 -
I am so glad to have been off the prozac for the last 14 months - but there are some mornings where I miss it.
Still don't miss the weight gain - 14lbs for each of the 5 years I was on it. 5 Stone, man that's a pain. Still 2 down.
Hope you are all having better days.0 -
Good luck with tomorrow's weigh-ins everyone.0
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Maybe someone should convince me that there is really is 250 K on the line ... maybe then I'd go out there and kill it!0
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Yes if only - still we will get our reward in other ways - honest!
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Het guys! I feel like I'm not doing very well for our team
. Two weeks at the same weight. Not sure what I'm going wrong but ill keep at it! Hope everyone else has had a better week than I did!!
Ashley0 -
No judgments from this end. Hang in there.0
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Hey Ashley,
No worries here. I'm not rocking it out myself. I can't seem to get motivated.0 -
Don't worry Ashley, as long as you're trying then at some point you'll see results. We're not here to judge each other, rather we're here for support. In that vain *hug*
I personally have noticed that I have a good loss followed by 3 increasingly disappointing ones - repeat. Drives me nuts the weeks I've worked hard and then see 0.1kg loss. 100 grams, that could be I drank one less cup of tea!! So I really feel for you having had two weeks at the same.
Keep at it, we're all behind you.0 -
Tomorrow probably won't be an awesome weigh in ... BUT I do feel good about the upcoming week. I'm stocked up on tons of ridiculously overpriced "treats," most of which are actually naturally flavored zero calorie waters and sparkling waters. I got a few healthy juices, and fresh fruit. I'm out of my junk options, and I don't really have a desire for more. I'm going to do my best to pre-pack my meals all week since I will be working long hours.0
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Lost .6 this week. Not a lot, but a step in the right direction. Hope everyone else is having a good week 0
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I'm up a pound this week. Just a lot of stress dealing with my mom's birthday... the first one since she died in January. There are several factors, but when it comes right down to it, it is what it is and this the step I have to work from today. Better results next week!0
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Hey team,
I'm on medical restriction for a really long time (way past the end of this competition) for most exercise. I'm still going to do the competition, but I need to clean up my diet big time. This weekend has been pretty bad--lots of socializing. I'm really struggling with motivation. I am unhappy with my weight and I'm unhappy with growing out of my clothing, but I'm really struggling with counting. I'm slowly but steadily gaining. Rar.0 -
FlaxMilk, hang in there! You need to focus first on getting your foot better. We all want you to be well, even if it means a temporary setback where the weight is concerned. Your health and well being is the most important thing. Numbers on the scale aren't the only way to make progress.
As for me, I can't say I expect any progress on the scales this week. I've been out of state for a family wedding and eating out at places that I didn't get to choose. Even so, I logged my food every day. I'm getting into the habit of keeping track of it regardless of what my days are like, so that's still progress. And now that this heat wave is over I can start walking more. The dog will enjoy that!0 -
Your health and well being is the most important thing. Numbers on the scale aren't the only way to chart your progress.
As Willow said, we all want you to be well. I hope your recovery goes as quickly and painlessly as it can. We're here for you.
*hug*0 -
Up this week, which I expected. I've been under the weather for over a week and have had absolutely not energy, so I haven't been very active. Went to the doctor yesterday and found out I have strep throat. No wonder I felt like crap..lol. So on medication and off work a couple of days so I can rest. Hopefully by this weekend I will be up and moving again 0
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Just take it easy and get better, varuca.
My lovely niece shared her cold with me. How nice. It hit me last night. I'm determined not to let it get me down.
Sorry about the weight gain on my end. Two weeks of being off-track wasn't good, but I'm getting back on track now.0 -
My scale loves me today. It says I've lost 5.2 pounds since my last weigh-in! Happy happy me!0
