Advice for extended vacation? or for being homeless?

Querian

Our lease is up next week. We plan to move from DC to the west coast somewhere but the where is contingent on where my husband gets a new job. He has been doing a lot of interviewing but one never knows how long something like this will take. We are putting our things in storage for now and have arranged some places to stay for the next month or so and have tentative plans beyond that time if need be. I'm packing up my scale. We will be able to cook a lot so we can eat healthy still although I'm sure we sill eat out sometimes, and probably eat more convenience foods than we usually do since normally I cook almost everything from scratch. I won't have my food scale with me either. I will be able to do a lot of walking and continue a bodyweight based strength training program I have been doing but no more gym, no more bicycle. I could take a measuring tape with me so I could still take measurements but that would probably be it.

What should my goals be?

Do I switch to maintenance until we find out where we are moving and find a new place to live?

Do I continue to try to lose under these circumstances? It is quite stressful but I think we are both handling it well so far.

I like the idea of switching to maintenance because then if I do manage to lose anything it will feel like a victory. But is that just the easy way out? Should I be trying to lose weight still? I have a lot further to go. I have lost 21 pounds so far and am about 179 currently. My first big goal is 146 then re-assess. I'm afraid that if I keep trying to lose weight I will get discouraged.

I expect this whole situation to last about 3 months before we are settled into our new place to live and I have my scale back but that is pure speculation. It could be shorter or longer than that.

aprmay

Just try to eat normal like you are doing and if you eat more process food then you do. Sounds stressful but if you have a placevto stay it shouldn't be too bad. Good luck.

pinkledoodledoo

If you like the idea of just maintaining your current weight while your living situation is stressful then I'd say that's going to be your best bet. You know yourself better than anyone here so if that is how you feel you'll be able to stick with some form of plan then I think it'd be better than stressing yourself out about calories when you don't have all of your stuff available to aid in the loss. Of course you can always decide to keep losing if things aren't as bad as anticipated.

Querian

Negotiate with your landlord on a month-to-month lease until you figure things out?

Not possible our place is already rented. :flowerforyou:

michellekicks

Weight loss is a stress to the body. Sometimes it's just not the right time to focus on it. I would set your goal to maintain for the time being and once you get settled, get back to a loftier goal.

I wish you well with the job situation.

Querian

If you like the idea of just maintaining your current weight while your living situation is stressful then I'd say that's going to be your best bet. You know yourself better than anyone here so if that is how you feel you'll be able to stick with some form of plan then I think it'd be better than stressing yourself out about calories when you don't have all of your stuff available to aid in the loss. Of course you can always decide to keep losing if things aren't as bad as anticipated.

Yes, I do like the idea of switching to maintenance. I will be able to stick to a plan pretty well I think but not like I can from home. Plus since I will have no scale I won't be able to tell if I am losing or what and I like to weight daily.

Querian

Weight loss is a stress to the body. Sometimes it's just not the right time to focus on it. I would set your goal to maintain for the time being and once you get settled, get back to a loftier goal.

I wish you well with the job situation.

Thanks, this is what I am thinking too

stefa711

If I were you I would continue to try to lose weight at a small defecit (like 250 cals/day- .5 lb per week).

Because of your situation, some days may be better than others, but at least you're still putting in the effort.

Slow progress is better than no progress and you'll thank yourself in the end for sticking to it.

Querian

Just try to eat normal like you are doing and if you eat more process food then you do. Sounds stressful but if you have a placevto stay it shouldn't be too bad. Good luck.

Thanks!

Querian

If I were you I would continue to try to lose weight at a small defecit (like 250 cals/day- .5 lb per week).

Because of your situation, some days may be better than others, but at least you're still putting in the effort.

Slow progress is better than no progress and you'll thank yourself in the end for sticking to it.

This is a good idea, too. I was thinking about switching to maintenance and then trying to still keep a deficit of 250-500 if possible but not stress out if I didn't make the deficit that day. :flowerforyou:

bcattoes

If it were me, I'd just focus on eating healthy and forget the calories and weight loss for now. But that is my answer for almost anything diet related.

Querian

If it were me, I'd just focus on eating healthy and forget the calories and weight loss for now. But that is my answer for almost anything diet related.

Hah, I like it!

freebirdjones

If it were me, I'd just focus on eating healthy and forget the calories and weight loss for now. But that is my answer for almost anything diet related.

This, and also will you have access to a freezer? I have seen before freezer cooking. So right before you leave you can for $150 make 30+ meals that are healthy for a slow cooker. You can google it. You just take one day and make your 30+ meals and label your freezer bags with slow cooker time and the name of what's in the bag. google it, it may help if you have access to a freezer. it may be better than processed. also eat lots of fruits & veggies. I would just keep taking it one day at a time eating healthy and don't worry about loss, if you lose its a bonus There are also great recipes on pinterest & google for homemade granola bars

Good luck with everything also

aprmay

Negotiate with your landlord on a month-to-month lease until you figure things out?

Not possible our place is already rented. :flowerforyou:

Sorry. I edited right after since I didn't read properly.

Querian

If it were me, I'd just focus on eating healthy and forget the calories and weight loss for now. But that is my answer for almost anything diet related.

This, and also will you have access to a freezer? I have seen before freezer cooking. So right before you leave you can for $150 make 30+ meals that are healthy for a slow cooker. You can google it. You just take one day and make your 30+ meals and label your freezer bags with slow cooker time and the name of what's in the bag. google it, it may help if you have access to a freezer. it may be better than processed. also eat lots of fruits & veggies. I would just keep taking it one day at a time eating healthy and don't worry about loss, if you lose its a bonus There are also great recipes on pinterest & google for homemade granola bars

Good luck with everything also

I wish I would have a freezer after reading this but we won't. We already eat mostly fresh fruits and veggies so I don't think that will change but for example I might buy veggie burgers instead of making my own, mostly because it is hard to travel with that many ingredients. But who knows, maybe I will make my own still! I'll just have to see what kind of kitchen facilities I will have on the road. We can only take as much food as will fit in a cooler and I think that will already be pretty full just with whatever is left in our frig. We will be able to shop once we get to our first location but it is like a 10 hour + drive and we need to fit everything we need in our car for 2 adults and one dog.

Thank you! :flowerforyou:

Jokenmit

Defiantly go to maintenance. You can eyeball a lot of things now because you have been using a scale for a long period of time, and already have a pretty secure mindset on what is the 'right' amount. You know yourself already that there will be some bad days, but keeping up with having healthy snack, fruit and veggies at the ready will be the key. Don't put your body under any more stress than you already will be under. Just remember hon...you got this! Good luck with everything.

Querian

Defiantly go to maintenance. You can eyeball a lot of things now because you have been using a scale for a long period of time, and already have a pretty secure mindset on what is the 'right' amount. You know yourself already that there will be some bad days, but keeping up with having healthy snack, fruit and veggies at the ready will be the key. Don't put your body under any more stress than you already will be under. Just remember hon...you got this! Good luck with everything.

Thanks! I'm going to change my settings right now! :flowerforyou:

CJ_Holmes

I agree with everyone else- I think it's important that you focus on being healthy and nourished right now, not on losing weight! Stay mindful- don't turn to snacking if you are stressed, cause it will just make you feel out of whack. Share meals with your hubby and be kind to yourself during this transition! Good luck!