SandTiger's work in progress thread - starting weight 245

caseydimples

So glad you are still updating your blog. Thanks for posting here so I could find it. I LOVE your motivation as it really motivates me. I'm positive you will get to goal this year. I'm going to try hard too. Thanks for the motivation!

Sand_TIger

Two more entries!

https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Sand_TIger/view?id=for-love-of-a-beet-1001464

https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Sand_TIger/view?id=tired-of-being-drained-dry-1001648

urbanr1

Great job__looking terrific!

Sand_TIger

Latest entry - hope it's helpful!

https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Sand_TIger/view?id=tips-for-beating-hunger-1001963

Sand_TIger

This latest entry basically talks about where I've been, a few of the challenges I've been facing, and how I'm not done yet!

https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Sand_TIger/view?id=is-the-hiatus-over-1004477

Sand_TIger

I'm starting a garden this year, after several failures. This time I'm REALLY trying.

https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Sand_TIger/view?id=i-humbly-receive-1004613

Sand_TIger

For all you moms - happy Mother's Day! Also Happy Mothers Day to all the dads and grandparents who fulfil a maternal role. You folks aren't forgotten either.

I painted this today as a way of improving my portrayal of light, and also making my mom happy - let's hear it for multitasking. But I thought I'd share.




(Regarding my weight loss, it's continuing. I'm about 20 pounds from goal. At this point I'm going more by the way my body looks and feels more than anything else. My body is proportional and I feel good, except for the fact that I have that famous floppy belly that still sticks out pretty far. Part is extra skin, part is fat. Even so I feel a little more patient about it. I'll get there. Eventually.

justanotherloser007

Love the perfect tulip, beautiful!

Sand_TIger

Latest blog entry - sort of a retrospective, talking about how my mindset changed over my weight loss journey.

https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Sand_TIger/view?id=where-i-ve-been-where-i-m-going-1007780

Sand_TIger

New blog entry - I'm writing a book! Looking for thoughts on any topics I should cover, and ideas on titles that would grab your attention.

https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Sand_TIger/view?id=you-don-t-have-to-be-rich-to-be-thin-1008174

Sand_TIger

New blog entry - I'm exploring two of the topics that were suggested in the comments from the previous entry. Thanks, folks! Good suggestions.

https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Sand_TIger/view?id=by-reader-request-tips-for-tofu-and-separate-meals-1008452

Sand_TIger

Update:

My weight loss is progressing pretty well again. I'm getting used to the smaller amounts of food and I'm about 5 pounds over my lowest weight. I'm getting serious about strength again, still just doing a basic split with what I have at my house.

For me that means arm, chest and back exercises with free weights, exercise bands, and some calisthenics (still working up to a full push up) on alternating days. The other days I do squats and lunges and some weighted leg exercises. I use the mini pedaler while I watch gardening videos on most days and sometimes still bust out the mini stepper. My butt needs a lot of work, LOL. I still have the flappy belly.

I'm trying to improve my protein intake but that's a little harder since I'm on a tight budget, so I'm getting creative with my meal prep and making things like protein muffins and crock pot beans. I'm having a lot more fruit since it's summer but using portion control. For example I might have two cups of watermelon (about 100 calories) instead of a massive wedge.

Regarding protein, I do have one slight advantage - estrogen has a protein sparing effect so if I'm only eating 80 or so grams in a day it's not the end of the world. I'm not having too much trouble staying in calorie restrictions. My goal is about a half pound a week but I usually do better than that, calorie wise.

Starting weight: 245 lb.
Current weight: 150.4 lb.
Height: 5'3" fineboned.

Sand_TIger

New blog entry about saving money on sports nutrition:

https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Sand_TIger/view?id=sports-nutrition-on-a-dime-1008816

I'm still hovering around 150 at the moment and getting ready to lose some more. Have my breakfasts and lunches prepped and that helps!

Sand_TIger

Same theme as last time, different subject:

https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Sand_TIger/view?id=losing-weight-on-a-dime-the-basics-1008853

Sand_TIger

Slightly more personal post - but still tangentially weight loss related.

https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Sand_TIger/view?id=picking-up-a-paintbrush-again-1009016

joans1976

Such an inspiration! I haven’t started on your blog yet but I can’t wait! I have about 110-120 pounds to lose and have lost 30 so far. My ideas and reasons for losing are constantly evolving, always a work in progress! Thank you for sharing, I know it can be hard to do!
PS I ❤️ cats

sargemarcori

Sand_TIger wrote: »

Regarding protein, I do have one slight advantage - estrogen has a protein sparing effect so if I'm only eating 80 or so grams in a day it's not the end of the world. I'm not having too much trouble staying in calorie restrictions. My goal is about a half pound a week but I usually do better than that, calorie wise.

I really struggle with my protein, and I'm doing a medical menopause (was on HRT, now I'm not.) I hadn't heard about this though?

Sand_TIger

sargemarcori wrote: »

I really struggle with my protein, and I'm doing a medical menopause (was on HRT, now I'm not.) I hadn't heard about this though?

It might have been growth hormone I was thinking of with the protein sparing effect, and I'm having trouble finding my reference. Carbohydrate does have a protein sparing effect, and there are some articles and studies to back that up.

What a woman's body is really good at though is recovery, partly due to estrogen, and I have an article about that ready to hand:

https://barbend.com/women-training-volume/

It isn't the article I was thinking of but makes the same basic points.

sargemarcori

thank you! I meant to also say something along the lines of how much I appreciate your being willing to share your story and to answer questions, and then I got in a hurry and forgot that part.

Sand_TIger

sargemarcori wrote: »

thank you! I meant to also say something along the lines of how much I appreciate your being willing to share your story and to answer questions, and then I got in a hurry and forgot that part.

You're very welcome Sharing helps.

Sand_TIger

Checking in! My work situation has changed very much for the better so with a reduced stress load I have more time to be active here. This marks the end of my first week of taking my calorie deficit seriously and prioritizing movement again. The intervening time was spent still paying attention to portions and keeping my indulgences sporadic, so I regaind maybe 10-15 pounds? Not bad considering how much stress I was under.

I'm also taking the reins of the Time Restricted Eating group, which was pretty much leaderless for a while. I started by accepting everyone who wanted to join and will continue being active in case anyone is interested.

My current strategy is pretty much what it was before, only eating between 11 and 7 every day so that I can cut my day down to two good meals and a snack rather than three small meals and two small snacks. Since I only get really hungry after I start eating for the day, this is just a tool to get the most satisfaction from the calories I take in. My goal for movement is basically 20ish minutes of activity a day, with a mix of indoor cardio and weight work. I no longer have access to a pool and can't take long walks outside so this is all basic indoor stuff using my own equipment.

Food plan is, as usual, prioritizing lean protein, vegetables and fruits and reducing grains but not eliminating them. Two tweaks are that I'm eating lean meat instead of protein bars (it's actually a lot cheaper) and having a few nuts every day. As in, 2-4 walnuts that I crack myself. I'm also not taking as many supplements as before and trying to get more of my nutrients from whole foods. So far, so good.

Anyway, at the end of my first week back, I'm already noticing an increase in energy and a reduction of puffiness in my face. This morning I weighed in at 164. Not much actual weight loss in this first week but I'm not worried about it since my body is feeling different and I know for a fact I'm in a deficit.

sargemarcori

good to see you back!

chudib

Welcome back @Sand_TIger !
Love reading your writeups

Sand_TIger

Thank you both

Sand_TIger

Also - if anyone would like the TRE group they are more than welcome to, however keep in mind that I don't get notifications for it unless I actually go into the forums. So it might be a little while till I see it.

Sand_TIger

Just discovered something cool - taco shells can be found as low calorie as 3 for 130 cals depending on the brand. I have been using my high fiber low carb fifty calorie tortillas (Jose Ole brand) for them but it's cool to be able to have hard shell as well. With taco meat made without a ton of extra fat and plenty of lettuce, tomato, salsa, onions, whatever else you may want, and low fat cheese, I can really enjoy this dinner without going over on calories or macros.

Midasgal

i just started here and your story is inspiring. I would like to join the Restricted eating group. will look for it

Sand_TIger

We'd be happy to have you! The link is here: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/49-tre-time-restricted-eating

If that doesn't work you should be able to search it under "TRE-time-restricted-eating."

beautyandababe

Sand_TIger wrote: »

Just discovered something cool - taco shells can be found as low calorie as 3 for 130 cals depending on the brand. I have been using my high fiber low carb fifty calorie tortillas (Jose Ole brand) for them but it's cool to be able to have hard shell as well. With taco meat made without a ton of extra fat and plenty of lettuce, tomato, salsa, onions, whatever else you may want, and low fat cheese, I can really enjoy this dinner without going over on calories or macros.

You can make a soft taco into a hard shell in the oven by draping over the bars of the oven rack! You can search google images to see what I mean.

Sand_TIger

beautyandababe wrote: »

You can make a soft taco into a hard shell in the oven by draping over the bars of the oven rack! You can search google images to see what I mean.

Absolutely you can! You can also make them in the microwavve, and also make tostada bowls by using a regular bowl as a form. The thing was, I'd never bought taco shells before because of this, and didn't know I could actually get THREE for 130 calories (instead of 150 or 180 if I made them myself with my low cal tortillas) and they were just really, really tasty.