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parkdad73
Posts: 88 Member
What brought you to living healthier? How did you find LC? How did you keep on at your first plateau? How do you keep on during difficulties? How do you manage your stressors? What tips and tricks are uniquely yours? Who motivates you? What motivates you?
These are just suggestions, but basically, what can you teach others to get them where you are or are going?
These are just suggestions, but basically, what can you teach others to get them where you are or are going?
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Constantly feeling sick and never losing weight, pain in my feet, ankles, back and legs from being overweight, pain in my wrists if I put to much pressure on it all a led me to want to live a healthier life. I was eating "healthy" before but it was the wrong healthy for me. Meaning I was eating more carbs than I should have even though they were things like whole grains and fruit.
I was told to go "low carb" by a nutritionist but the limit they set was on the high side and hard to maintain. They also wanted me to eat low fat which made things even harder. I stalked the Atkins website for ages and "tried" to get lower carb, but all the while eating low fat. Needless to say that didn't work and I researched some more until I got more comfortable with the idea of eating fat. I jumped in fully in mid January of this year.
I've more or less been on a plateau the whole time as far as scale weight. I'll lose big two weeks in a row, gain in all back, then lose big again. Inches, on the other hand is another story. I've lost more than 6 inches overall and when I put my favorite and well fitting jeans on this morning, freshly washed though not dried because I have no dryer, they were almost starting to get baggy rather than just a little loose.
Life is difficult. Sometimes finances aren't going good, someone is often ill, someone needs to be taken somewhere, schedules are hectic, an animal (or dozen in my case) needs something. I finally came to 2 conclusions about my life in regards to LC and life in general. The first is the above, there will ALWAYS be drama of some sort-its just life. I can either eat healthy, feel better, and make a little less drama, or I can keep eating crap and eventually be the one making the drama for everyone else. I've seen what happens to those with my genetics who don't properly take care of diabetes. The other thing is the whole "its only once in awhile" mentality. It (and I mean baked goodies/ice cream, whatever) is never once in awhile in my life. The workplace alone means I'm exposed to cake at least 2x a month, and that doesn't count the boss bring in congratulatory donuts, or the boss above him ordering a big pasta or pizza lunch as a reward, etc. Someone is always getting married, promoted, having a baby, etc. So I've picked my own once in awhiles that mean something to me and forgo the rest of the time.
I manage stressors with exercise, meditation, crochet, reading, therapy, and taking action. Seriously, if someone is bugging you, say so. They may stop and you'll feel better. If they don't stop at least they know where you stand. And, yes, therapy. Some of my emotional eating as well as how I handle stress is due to past trauma and therapy has helped in that regard.
Most of the tips and tricks I use I've learned here making me truly grateful for this group.
My family motivates me as well as the dress I'm eyeing that is my reward to myself for finishing the walking program we have going on at work. My personal goal for that is to walk the maximum allowed to be claimed for credit.
To others, keep moving forward. Don't start over, because, really there is no such thing. There is no reset button. Just log it, learn from it, take stock of how it made you feel and whether you truly wanted it or not, and move on. Also, find the carbs/calories that work for you and know that everyone is different. Making mistakes is how we learn.5 -
How do you keep on during difficulties?
Planning for me is key. I do prep days for the week ahead. I make sure to look at a menu beforehand if going out to eat.
Also, I try to control my thinking and perceptions as much as I control my food availability. I try not to think of food in terms of "bad" or choices in terms of "cheating". They're just choices. As long as I have a solid LCHF foundation, I know that I can be successful. When I came to that realization, it felt like losing weight was no longer a frantic race to the finish line, but rather an eventuality that will come as long as I stay the course and depend on that solid foundation.
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Needed this thread today. Thanks for starting it, parkdad. :-)
What brought you to living healthier?--What brought me BACK to eating healthier (been at lowcarb in one form or another since late 90's) was that my "give-a-*kitten*" gauge had been stuck on "I don't" for a couple-too-many years. Some significant life stressors and a crumbling personal relationship that I'd refused to acknowledge was crumbling had me distracting myself with food and too much wine. I conveniently ignored that my clothes were getting tighter again, avoided the scale...many of you know the drill. Had my own personal come to jesus meeting in late fall and vowed to again treat myself with the care and respect that I was looking for from someone else and not receiving. Because that's really where it's at...loving yourself enough to do what's best for you. Once back on track and committed to my own success, everything fell right back into place the way it ALWAYS does when I fuel my body appropriately. Physical maladies ceased or were significantly reduced. Depression, lethargy, and brain fog lifted. Oh, and the weight started going in the right direction again.
How did you find LC?--Atkins, May of '98. My ex-husband's co-worker's wife was doing it. I was your typical naysayer, "OMG! You're going to DIE from all that FAT! How could you POSSIBLY think this would be HEALTHY for you!" I was so completely obnoxious and judgmental that I roll my eyes at myself now. ;-) The co-workers wife bailed after a few weeks. I, on the other hand, reached a point of utter despair w/ my weight probably pushing 260, and decided on a whim to buy a copy of DANDR and read it cover to cover. And so the magic began.
How did you keep on at your first plateau?--"This too shall pass." I feel so much better physically when I'm eating low carb and don't want to invite the depression demons to take up residence in my brain again. Keep on keepin' on and the scale eventually has no choice but to follow. It's also good to know how your body works when losing weight. How you can show a big drop on the scale, gain half back, bounce around for a bit before a new low is reached. It's good to know how fat cells will hold water as "placeholders" when the fat first vacates, not truly reflecting on the scale that you're progressing. With my body, I know that when I get weird chills in a perfectly temperature controlled room, that some fat is being burnt for fuel and I may see some scale movement soon. The longer you're at it, the more you'll get to know your own body and be able to read the clues. Wait, watch, record, and refer to past performance to talk yourself down from your tree when the metal monster isn't cooperating.
How do you keep on during difficulties/How do you manage your stressors??--After my last serious case of backsliding over the last few years, I know that I have to be accountable. Logging helps tremendously. I'm not of the mindset that I'll "never" eat X,Y,Z again. It's a choice, as has been stated by another poster above. Some things I can eat without negative repercussions (in moderation), others I need to decide if it's worth the potential for gut discomfort, headaches, or just feeling "less than" how I feel on low carb. In the end, whatever difficulty or stress I'm up against, if I choose to eat poorly for me it is NOT going to make it any less so, and can, most likely, add negatively to the situation. Really? I need to ADD more *kitten* to the storm? That doesn't sound like a very bright move... ;-)
What tips and tricks are uniquely yours? Who motivates you? What motivates you?--Don't know that I have any unique tips. I've found that life is smoother when I keep things as simple as possible. Change up the daily menu very little. Cook things I really like to eat in big batches and freeze for those nights I'm tempted to order out instead. Try to include extra physical movement of some sort everyday...things I enjoy doing. Don't make the scale the end all/be all of success monitoring. Get rid of the fat clothes AS SOON AS THEY'RE UNDERGROWN! lol
As far as WHO motivates me...every one of my friends on here who keep on keepin' on every day. It makes me happy to see people find their answer and succeed, because I feel SO fortunate to have figured this stuff out myself and wish this kind of "peace with food" to everyone who struggles.
Regarding WHAT motivates me right now? That changes from day to day, but right now it's summer approaching and realizing it's been at least two years since I was comfortable in a pair of shorts and a tank top, let alone a swimsuit. ;-) Oh, and then there's that whole, "Looks like I'm back in the dating pool" thing, too. Yeah, that can be pretty motivating! lol0 -
Parkdad wrote:
<What brought you to living healthier?>
My health was declining and prescription drugs and medicines didn't help me much. I was so overweight, that doing ANYTHING was hard. Even picking stuff up off the floor. Walking short amounts is all I could do.
My conditions I have or had while I was fat:
Diabetes
Insulin resistant, metabolic syndrome
Neuropathy in feet
Started getting some retinopathy in my eyes (common in diabetics)
Edema (swollen ankles) (common in diabetics)
Gnawing hunger ALL THE TIME! I could eat, and two hours later I would be hungry again.
Short term memory loss (that may be age related, IDK)
High Blood pressure
High cholesterol
Low testosterone
non-existent libido
I suffer from water-on-the-knee (weight related damage)
Sciatic nerve damage (weight related damage)
My meds:
Injected insulin (two types) 3-5 times a day,
Metformin, (diabetic med)
Advair (asthma)
Vitamin D
Glipizide (diabetic med)
Lorsartin (Blood pressure med)
Statins (cholesterol med)
Aspirin
Advil several times a week
What's weird, is that I have all those problems, and yet, I hardly ever got sick. like colds, flu's or fevers. I hardly ever missed work.
My doctor prescribed no less than (4) different appetite suppression drugs over the last years. None of them worked, except Victoza. And that gave me severe gastroperesis (your food doesn't move out of your stomach, gets rotten and you violently throw up and have diarrhea), and had to stop taking it.
For the last 25 years, I gained weight, went on a SAD diet, lost a lot of it and gained it all back and adding about 10% to 20% more than when I started. Eventually I got up to 330 lbs. Victoza was the last diet I did, I gave up. I wanted bariatric surgery, went to (4) seminars at hospitals, read everything I could about it, watched hours of YouTube success stories. But I couldn't get it because all the last companies I worked for, the insurance wouldn't cover it. Then my last job, they would, so I signed up.
I think the last straw, that scared me, was I was regularly getting numbness/tingling in my arms while sleeping. Talking to my doctor, he said it was a fat/circulation problem. But I would constantly hear of diabetics getting heart attacks. I didn't want to be one of them. I still didn't have a solution. I swore to myself I would never do another diet. I did pray to God NOT to give me willpower, but to give me wisdom to scientifically figure this out. God opened doors for me. (YAY!)
<How did you find LC?>
The rest of the story is here:
It's Ketogenic or Bariatric! How I Found the Ketogenic Diet
<How did you keep on at your first plateau?>
Not sure what that means... Plateau of what?
<How do you keep on during difficulties? How do you manage your stressors?>
I have faith in God. I am a laid back person, it takes a lot to stress me.
<What tips and tricks are uniquely yours?>
Mine aren't unique. But I do Intermittent Water Fasting
The other thing I do, that I haven't seen many people do, is I have learned how to link previous posts, like this:
Blog #13 DittoDan's Milestone's, First's And Good Changes Since Starting the Ketogenic Diet
DittoDan's Keto Blogs
Blog #10 Keto: Abbreviations, Acronyms & Terminology Used on the LCD & Keto Discussion Groups
I do this because MFP doesn't have a decent search feature.
<Who motivates you? What motivates you?>
God and the fear of God.
And:
To get my health back, in order to get my fitness back. Then I'll start to get my active life back again (Lord willing). I am already planning many things now! (I've lost 77 pounds with about 45ish to go).
<These are just suggestions, but basically, what can you teach others to get them where you are or are going?>
Actually I love teaching. There were times during this diet that I forego earning $50 an hour moonlighting, so I could spend an hour or two helping newbies. There are veterans on this list that were patient with me, and helped me at the first. So, I want to do the same for newbies now.
Whew! Oh well... nobody will read this, but it did help me to write it out...
I hope this helps,
Dan the Man from Michigan
Previous Discussions (lots of easy Keto recipes and other useful Keto info)
My Blog: Intermittent Water Fasting & Keto
Blog #11 Really Good Keto Websites5 -
Parkdad wrote:
<What brought you to living healthier?>
I think the last straw, that scared me, was I was regularly getting numbness/tingling in my arms while sleeping. Talking to my doctor, he said it was a fat/circulation problem. But I would constantly hear of diabetics getting heart attacks. I didn't want to be one of them. I still didn't have a solution. I swore to myself I would never do another diet. I did pray to God NOT to give me willpower, but to give me wisdom to scientifically figure this out. God opened doors for me. (YAY!)
Whew! Oh well... nobody will read this, but it did help me to write it out...
I hope this helps,
Dan, I read this this morning, but had to wait until I got to a computer to type this. I always read your posts with interest. Sometimes I have nothing useful to add to a conversation, or I'm on my tablet and writing is slow and tedious on that, so don't always reply: don't be downhearted, you do help people a lot with your contributions.
In particular, I was really interested that you also get/got what you describe as numbness and tingling in your arms while sleeping. This was the thing that scared me into losing weight because I couldn't rationalise it away: I usually sleep on my side and it's not the lower side (the side on the mattress) that gets the "pins and needles" (I don't know if you call it that in the US), but the upper side. I usually last asleep OK until 5 am but then I need to turn over every 15/20 minutes or so to relieve the tingling. Obviously blood is not circulating as it should when I'm in bed for a long time. Not only is it worrying from a heart/circulatory perspective, but also it cuts down my sleep and I could really do with the extra hour from 5 am -6 am!
Now that I've lost 26/7 lbs I thought it would have resolved as I am now the same weight as I was before the problem started, but it hasn't resolved (yet?).
Reading your post reminded me why I started this WOE. This was good as I've been quite down-hearted this week and while I wasn't contemplating giving up keto, I have noticed self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviours creeping in: this tends to be a pattern for me whenever I start to feel like I am being successful on a diet and at losing weight. Especially when other people start noticing - that tends to make me want to stop for some bizarre reason.
We spoke before about feeling "led" to this WOE: maybe your post there was a reminder for me why I started and why I need to continue. My faith is in the mustard seed category, but sometimes I just need to trust in something bigger.
Thanks for posting Dan, and thanks for the thread parkdad.
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totaloblivia wrote: »I think the last straw, that scared me, was I was regularly getting numbness/tingling in my arms while sleeping. Talking to my doctor, he said it was a fat/circulation problem.
Just a side comment on this is that recently I realized that the on-and-off-again numbness down my left arm is due to a herniated disk pinching a nerve in my neck. I notice it when I put my head back too far, especially when doing yoga (go figure... bad posture for most of my 58 years). It is called cervical radiculopathy.
Take a look at this video for more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7j81mFjQoY
What keeps me on LCHF and MFP? fear! I don't want to gain back what I lost. And I want to get stronger as I age, not weaker. Just bought a kettlebell!!2 -
I read yours Dan. I've read them all. I think it's a great idea and will probably read them all again in the future.0
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totaloblivia wrote: »I think the last straw, that scared me, was I was regularly getting numbness/tingling in my arms while sleeping. Talking to my doctor, he said it was a fat/circulation problem.
Just a side comment on this is that recently I realized that the on-and-off-again numbness down my left arm is due to a herniated disk pinching a nerve in my neck. I notice it when I put my head back too far, especially when doing yoga (go figure... bad posture for most of my 58 years). It is called cervical radiculopathy.
Take a look at this video for more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7j81mFjQoY
What keeps me on LCHF and MFP? fear! I don't want to gain back what I lost. And I want to get stronger as I age, not weaker. Just bought a kettlebell!!
That's interesting thanks. My neck has recently got very sore I think from bad sleeping position. Unfortunately, my tingling is on both sides, so I don't know if this can be connected to my neck. But I will have a look at the video when I'm not at work (ahem...). I really appreciate all the great help and advice folk give in this group!
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I had never really dieted (other than cutting out soda in 2007 ahead of my wedding) until 2010 when my husband said he wanted to try low carb. He had gained weight in college due to medication and had never really shed it. I joined in because it was as easy to eat the same thing as not. We both lost a bunch of weight and it was noticeable, but then there were storms that kept knocking out our power for weeks at a time, so we got paranoid about restocking the fridge with healthy food. Then we kept trying but mistakenly tried to keep it low fat, thinking that would be healthier. Obviously it wasn't sustainable. We had more cheat days than plan days, and both gained more weight back than we'd lost.What brought you to living healthier?
This year we thought we'd give it another go, and I tried an even lower carb version while my husband tried the same old plan. He was done after two days, but I continued. Eventually he saw how much better VLC was and decided to join in on a more keto-aimed plan. I'm on day 52 and he's almost to a month.
In 2010 we saw the Belly Fat Cure plan book on our friends' kitchen table. The intro to the book described the problem with insulin, which was the first I'd ever heard of how it stored fat (I'm the person who sent my diabetic aunt a fruit basket thinking it was healthy for her).How did you find LC?
As for finding this group, I wandered over here this February as I realized what I was doing was super low carb. I think I was hoping for recipes, but I found an amazing support group and fantastic links to articles on the science behind what we're doing.
I haven't really hit a plateau this time. A couple days with no loss, interspersed with some days I've gained. Does that count? I just trust the WOE, but I've also taken a close look at what I was eating to see if anything was problematic. I've found my big drops have all been water weight, my gains are after higher-sodium days (more water retention), and my sustainable losses are after days with higher fat.How did you keep on at your first plateau?
I do find that some days I stress the numbers (F/P/C) too much, eating more than I want to reach a protein goal, for example. I want to get to the point where I listen more to my body rather than worrying about the macros and micros.
Honestly, going as low carb as I can, I'm finding that this isn't difficult at all. When I leave work, the air is often filled with the smell of fried dough from the Dunkin Donuts around the corner. This would have done me in on a bad day of higher carb (≤120g total / day). Going lower, I can actually enjoy the smell (memories of summer carnivals and such) without feeling any desire for a dozen glazed donuts and a dark quiet place to eat them all on my own.How do you keep on during difficulties?
Getting enough sleep, fresh air, conversation, keeping active, exercise, knocking things off my to-do list. If it's really bad I have kava tea I can sip.How do you manage your stressors?
I don't know if any tips are uniquely mine, but I definitely find that the lower I go on carbs, the easier this is. I've gotten to the point where I will say what nutrient I want rather than what flavor food I'd like. I would heavily argue in favor of cutting out any sweeteners at all. I was a "light and sweet" coffee girl, and I find I prefer cream-only to cream+stevia. Now sweetened coffee tastes awful to me. But that's been true since 2010. Anyway, the less sweetener I have, the less indulgences I desire. Look for the Whole30 "Sex with your pants on" article, which I largely agree with even if it's not exactly the same plan as I am following.What tips and tricks are uniquely yours?
When I am feeling sluggish I look to protein. If I get weak I look to electrolytes. If I'm snacky I go for fat.
I take magnesium supplements twice a day to prevent cramping in my legs overnight. But I already knew that magnesium is good for the nervous system and took it for sciatic-related pain, too.
My husband, and you guys!Who motivates you?
The skinny pants in my closet I haven't been able to wear since 2010. The idea of donating clothes that are too big for me. This image of a strong and slender old lady who is healthy and active and alert - my grandfather is about to turn 100, I have a long life ahead of me! I don't want to spend it in a rocking chair.What motivates you?
I've also really been enjoying the cooking. Normally I'd have been cooking and entering foods and negotiating -1/2c green beans to try and fit in some garlic toast, and arguing with my husband why adding cinnamon to a dessert meant he couldn't have the whole serving. Now that we've cut way back and are preparing fresh meats with homemade sauces, there's no more of that. We just cook together and enjoy each other's company, and feel great while we eat amazingly delicious foods.
What also motivates me is how disappointed I am whenever I eat packaged foods. I poured jarred alfredo sauce on my chicken a couple weeks ago and it tasted like liquid plastic. Once your taste buds know what real food is, you don't want to go back.1 -
I've learned a ton, but mostly I have a renewed respect for the complexity of the human body. I studied a little biochem 30+ years ago, but didn't enjoy the lab work and switched to computer science. Now I want to switch back to biochem.
I found LC through an enlightened doc 10 years ago. He was pretty fresh out of med school and had done some nutritional research projects as part of his studies, which was unusual for an MD. He saw my blood test results and basically said "d00d, you have hereditary dyslipidemia. Go get a copy of Protein Power."
I did, and it worked, but I slacked off. My goal is to make LC a lifestyle. I need it to manage the way my body handles excess carbs. Long-term sustainability is key for me.0 -
I really, REALLY love this intelligent, empowered, amazing, supportive group. :-) Just sayin'...0
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totaloblivia wrote: »Parkdad wrote:
<What brought you to living healthier?>
I think the last straw, that scared me, was I was regularly getting numbness/tingling in my arms while sleeping. Talking to my doctor, he said it was a fat/circulation problem. But I would constantly hear of diabetics getting heart attacks. I didn't want to be one of them. I still didn't have a solution. I swore to myself I would never do another diet. I did pray to God NOT to give me willpower, but to give me wisdom to scientifically figure this out. God opened doors for me. (YAY!)
Whew! Oh well... nobody will read this, but it did help me to write it out...
I hope this helps,
Dan, I read this this morning, but had to wait until I got to a computer to type this. I always read your posts with interest. Sometimes I have nothing useful to add to a conversation, or I'm on my tablet and writing is slow and tedious on that, so don't always reply: don't be downhearted, you do help people a lot with your contributions.
In particular, I was really interested that you also get/got what you describe as numbness and tingling in your arms while sleeping. This was the thing that scared me into losing weight because I couldn't rationalise it away: I usually sleep on my side and it's not the lower side (the side on the mattress) that gets the "pins and needles" (I don't know if you call it that in the US), but the upper side. I usually last asleep OK until 5 am but then I need to turn over every 15/20 minutes or so to relieve the tingling. Obviously blood is not circulating as it should when I'm in bed for a long time. Not only is it worrying from a heart/circulatory perspective, but also it cuts down my sleep and I could really do with the extra hour from 5 am -6 am!
Now that I've lost 26/7 lbs I thought it would have resolved as I am now the same weight as I was before the problem started, but it hasn't resolved (yet?).
Reading your post reminded me why I started this WOE. This was good as I've been quite down-hearted this week and while I wasn't contemplating giving up keto, I have noticed self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviours creeping in: this tends to be a pattern for me whenever I start to feel like I am being successful on a diet and at losing weight. Especially when other people start noticing - that tends to make me want to stop for some bizarre reason.
We spoke before about feeling "led" to this WOE: maybe your post there was a reminder for me why I started and why I need to continue. My faith is in the mustard seed category, but sometimes I just need to trust in something bigger.
Thanks for posting Dan, and thanks for the thread parkdad.
Interesting to note that having your friends notice "tends to make me want to stop for some bizarre reason." I have the same reaction. A shrink once told me that I use my weight to hide from people. Maybe that's the answer. I know I have an over-blown need for privacy. Probably from growing up in a "shame on you" atmosphere. Hang on anyway. it's really none of their business.0 -
Great thread. Thanks all.0
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Reading about the LC has helped me learn how I need to focus on getting my Vit D level up and that taking K1 and K2 are required to do that well and wind up with strong bones. LC learning is helping me better grasp how to live as disease free as possible.0
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In lieu of a coffee break, I pull up to the office computer with a big jug of water and start looking for the MFP LCHF notes to get me psyched up for lunch!
To parkdad, octobubbles, dan the man, everyone - I learn something from you every day.
Oh well... nobody will read this, but it did help me to write it out... per Dan the Man from Michigan+ NOT SO
It helps me to read about all of your challenges and your positive attitudes have taught me more than my failed, repeated attempts at WeightWatchers ever did!0 -
Once again, just what I needed from all of you to keep going 0
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What brought you to living healthier?
I was overweight - 345lbs or so. A few years ago I started having weird symptoms after I ate. Lightheadedness - a sort of "fuzzy" feel I couldn't shake. Then nausia. A few weeks later I started getting sick about 15-30 minutes after meals. Almost every meal. I started to become afraid to eat, wondering whether I'd keep it down or lose it. It was terrifying. My doctor put me through all kinds of tests. They all came back that I was perfectly fine. My labs were fine. Aside from my describing my symptoms, there was no evidence anything was happening. Finally I asked about food allergies. We tried that, and within a day of removing gluten the symptoms stopped. I cut out all carbs except what I ate in my vegetables to make it easier on myself, and not only did my extreme bloating, discomfort, nausia, fuzzy headedness go away, but within a few weeks so did the aches in my fingers and wrists from typing all day. This discovery helped my doctor and I move me to a keto lifestyle.
What motivates you?
Feeling healthy, no longer being sick, losing 112 lbs. I run, do yoga, lift weights, and zumba on saturdays I haven't thrown up in a long time and that's awesome for me. I look great, I feel great. I believe in myself and after a year and a half I know I can stick to this without any trouble.
How did you keep on at your first plateau?
The first time I stopped losing I was nervous. I'd dropped 60 lbs pretty effortlessly and then one day, nothing. The nothing lasted a couple of weeks, and was more stressful mentally than anything else. Getting past that first one has made all the others no big deal. I do start weighing and measuring just in case the stall in weight loss was my own doing from not paying attention, but I don't stress anymore. It's not a race.
How do you keep on during difficulties?
My difficulties have been primarily with other people. Not just the annoying "high fat is bad for you. you need carbs." stuff. I had to remove some friends from my life who were actively antagonistic and toxic, more angry that I was losing weight successfully and interupting their ability to go out for drinks or dinner and have me not drink or not eat my food "like a normal person." Their anger was unexpected and painful. Finding people to talk to who were patient and understanding and had been there before made all the difference in the world.
What tips and tricks are uniquely yours?
They are not uniquely mine, but I preplan my week, cook a lot on sundays and prep meal boxes for lunches for the week. I buy in bulk like a lot of people and freeze/store/make ahead. I would be a mess if I didn't do this. I also pick one or two things that I love and buy high quality items. For me it was buying an espresso machine and buying awesome espresso. The other is cheese. I love great cheese. Those are my splurges. My "cheats" or whatever. My espresso machine makes me happier than cupcakes. I thinking having a "thing" that gets you excited is important.0 -
saraphim41 wrote: »totaloblivia wrote: »Parkdad wrote:
<What brought you to living healthier?>
I think the last straw, that scared me, was I was regularly getting numbness/tingling in my arms while sleeping. Talking to my doctor, he said it was a fat/circulation problem. But I would constantly hear of diabetics getting heart attacks. I didn't want to be one of them. I still didn't have a solution. I swore to myself I would never do another diet. I did pray to God NOT to give me willpower, but to give me wisdom to scientifically figure this out. God opened doors for me. (YAY!)
Whew! Oh well... nobody will read this, but it did help me to write it out...
I hope this helps,
Dan, I read this this morning, but had to wait until I got to a computer to type this. I always read your posts with interest. Sometimes I have nothing useful to add to a conversation, or I'm on my tablet and writing is slow and tedious on that, so don't always reply: don't be downhearted, you do help people a lot with your contributions.
In particular, I was really interested that you also get/got what you describe as numbness and tingling in your arms while sleeping. This was the thing that scared me into losing weight because I couldn't rationalise it away: I usually sleep on my side and it's not the lower side (the side on the mattress) that gets the "pins and needles" (I don't know if you call it that in the US), but the upper side. I usually last asleep OK until 5 am but then I need to turn over every 15/20 minutes or so to relieve the tingling. Obviously blood is not circulating as it should when I'm in bed for a long time. Not only is it worrying from a heart/circulatory perspective, but also it cuts down my sleep and I could really do with the extra hour from 5 am -6 am!
Now that I've lost 26/7 lbs I thought it would have resolved as I am now the same weight as I was before the problem started, but it hasn't resolved (yet?).
Reading your post reminded me why I started this WOE. This was good as I've been quite down-hearted this week and while I wasn't contemplating giving up keto, I have noticed self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviours creeping in: this tends to be a pattern for me whenever I start to feel like I am being successful on a diet and at losing weight. Especially when other people start noticing - that tends to make me want to stop for some bizarre reason.
We spoke before about feeling "led" to this WOE: maybe your post there was a reminder for me why I started and why I need to continue. My faith is in the mustard seed category, but sometimes I just need to trust in something bigger.
Thanks for posting Dan, and thanks for the thread parkdad.
Interesting to note that having your friends notice "tends to make me want to stop for some bizarre reason." I have the same reaction. A shrink once told me that I use my weight to hide from people. Maybe that's the answer. I know I have an over-blown need for privacy. Probably from growing up in a "shame on you" atmosphere. Hang on anyway. it's really none of their business.
@saraphim41 good to know I'm not the only one! I read comments on weight loss like this as "because you were so fat and ugly".... projecting out my own self hatred....my own problems! I think you're right that weight is used to hide too. But hopefully now we can get beyond the "emotional obesity". This is a great place to talk about this stuff and learn from you all. Thank you.1 -
supergirl6 wrote: »What brought you to living healthier?
I was overweight - 345lbs or so. A few years ago I started having weird symptoms after I ate. Lightheadedness - a sort of "fuzzy" feel I couldn't shake. Then nausia. A few weeks later I started getting sick about 15-30 minutes after meals. Almost every meal. I started to become afraid to eat, wondering whether I'd keep it down or lose it. It was terrifying. My doctor put me through all kinds of tests. They all came back that I was perfectly fine. My labs were fine. Aside from my describing my symptoms, there was no evidence anything was happening. Finally I asked about food allergies. We tried that, and within a day of removing gluten the symptoms stopped. I cut out all carbs except what I ate in my vegetables to make it easier on myself, and not only did my extreme bloating, discomfort, nausia, fuzzy headedness go away, but within a few weeks so did the aches in my fingers and wrists from typing all day. This discovery helped my doctor and I move me to a keto lifestyle.
What motivates you?
Feeling healthy, no longer being sick, losing 112 lbs. I run, do yoga, lift weights, and zumba on saturdays I haven't thrown up in a long time and that's awesome for me. I look great, I feel great. I believe in myself and after a year and a half I know I can stick to this without any trouble.
How did you keep on at your first plateau?
The first time I stopped losing I was nervous. I'd dropped 60 lbs pretty effortlessly and then one day, nothing. The nothing lasted a couple of weeks, and was more stressful mentally than anything else. Getting past that first one has made all the others no big deal. I do start weighing and measuring just in case the stall in weight loss was my own doing from not paying attention, but I don't stress anymore. It's not a race.
How do you keep on during difficulties?
My difficulties have been primarily with other people. Not just the annoying "high fat is bad for you. you need carbs." stuff. I had to remove some friends from my life who were actively antagonistic and toxic, more angry that I was losing weight successfully and interupting their ability to go out for drinks or dinner and have me not drink or not eat my food "like a normal person." Their anger was unexpected and painful. Finding people to talk to who were patient and understanding and had been there before made all the difference in the world.
What tips and tricks are uniquely yours?
They are not uniquely mine, but I preplan my week, cook a lot on sundays and prep meal boxes for lunches for the week. I buy in bulk like a lot of people and freeze/store/make ahead. I would be a mess if I didn't do this. I also pick one or two things that I love and buy high quality items. For me it was buying an espresso machine and buying awesome espresso. The other is cheese. I love great cheese. Those are my splurges. My "cheats" or whatever. My espresso machine makes me happier than cupcakes. I thinking having a "thing" that gets you excited is important.
Thanks for sharing your awesome story about your experience.
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