giving it a shot but feel out of water
Replies
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I'm glad you didn't let the stikin thinkin take over and kept on going! Thanks for updating!
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Here is the weekly update, as I figured the ending weight is higher than I'm seeing on the scale in the last 3 days, all because of the 2 higher weight days at the beginning of the week.
This journey is really amazing. The mind roller coaster alone is crazy. I knew this was what I needed to do; eat at TDEE, gain some weight, get the metabolism up and running, and then go back to diet mode and do it right! "C'mon let's do this!!"
Now comes the time for the cut I thought (for a brief moment) "oh my God what did I do?? I actually gained weight on purpose??!?!? Now I'm back to having to take off all the weight I gained and then some...and it's going to take me months to lose just what I gained eating TDEE" I thought that and I had regret. Yet I had been dieting for YEARS and the weight just wasn't moving like it should, like I would lose a half pound a month eating at 1400-1500 calories a day and working out 6 days a week.
I do think I came at this "diet" this time with the right mindset. For the first time in my life it wasn't about eating less. It was about getting healthier and if I lost weight? Added bonus. But at some point it did change over to wanting to lose the extra pounds. I was doing everything right; working out 6 days a week (and this wasn't just a few months worth, this was years at the gym and being active), I was eating all whole grains, lower sugar, healthy fats, no red meat, blah blah blah (again for YEARS), and while doing all that I actually started to gain weight.
Ahhh anyway, just some thoughts on the mind roller coaster lol. So years of the diet industry screaming at me to eat less is SO ingrained in my brain that I still want to default to that when I don't see the scale moving like it should. Even though I now KNOW that I shouldn't do that. I KNOW that it will only hurt my metabolism in the long run. But my brain still wants to go there sometimes.
Week 28
average calories 1961 starting weight 207.2 ending weight 206.2
Total calories eaten 13732, Fit Bit burned 17936 -4204
Recap:
Week 17
average calories 1968 starting weight 209? ending weight 207.6
Week 18
average calories 1994 starting weight 207.6 ending weight 206
Week 19
average calories 2144 starting weight 206 ending weight 204.8
Week 20
average calories 1876 starting weight 204.8 ending weight 204.2
Week 21
average calories 1867. Starting weight 204.2 ending weight 203.2
Week 22
average calories 1907 . Starting weight 203.2 ending weight 202.1
Week 23 & 24 vacation
Week 25
average calories 2063. Starting weight 202.1 ending weight 207.8
Week 26
average calories 2063. starting weight 207.8 ending weight 207.3
Week 27
average calories 2028 . starting weight 207.3 ending weight 207.20 -
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Sounds like you let off the stress too from the effect going up - good work, probably helped too.1
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The diet industry is ridiculously successful because it is done right. For them, not for us, of course. They will give us new tricks, new hopes, new expectations, all at a higher cost every time. We end up falling for it, buying, trying, we may even see some instant gratification, have a perfect moment with the scale and some old clothes than we too tight and then, BAM, it stops. We get tired, sick, hungry, bored, tired of spending money on it. We start craving for a real life, for eating the food we like, for spending time with our friends and family, for feeling less tired and more sleep.
No more perfect moments with the scale and old clothes. Things get back the way they used to be, we give up, feeling like losers who need to settle for less. Until the next trend comes out, new, improved, lean, sexy, stylish so we can start it all over again, and again.
It's hard to break free of the diet industry, to close our eyes and ears to their empty promises. To actually realize that the best way to have long term success in this journey isn't as sexy, fast and glamorous as the diet industry tries to sell.
Kudos for sticking with it, for pushing those thoughts away from your mind. I deal with my mind everyday and know how hard it can be. It's better to inch our way to success than to stay spinning our wheels indefinitely.2 -
Week 29
average calories 2130 starting weight 206.2 ending weight 205.7
Total calories eaten 14914, Fit Bit burned 18860 -3946
All week the scale goes up, the scale goes down. I see 1 pound jumps up at least twice a week, never 1 pound drops though lol. Almost a 3000 calorie day yesterday. Note to self "do not skip lunch because you will not be able to stop eating dinner!"
The scale does move...but slowly. I'll take it and continue on. Maybe next week the weight will move more easily. If not? Well I'll take that too. I'll continue moving on because I know the weight will come off eventually and when it does, I know it will be for life this time because I now know how to eat once I'm not on a diet. I'm done with the days of either starvation or "I'm eating whatever I want because I just gain weight eating like a normal person". All I had before were those two modes. So onwards and upwards errrr downwards I hope lol.
Week 17
average calories 1968 starting weight 209? ending weight 207.6
Week 18
average calories 1994 starting weight 207.6 ending weight 206
Week 19
average calories 2144 starting weight 206 ending weight 204.8
Week 20
average calories 1876 starting weight 204.8 ending weight 204.2
Week 21
average calories 1867. Starting weight 204.2 ending weight 203.2
Week 22
average calories 1907 . Starting weight 203.2 ending weight 202.1
Week 23 & 24 vacation
Week 25
average calories 2063. Starting weight 202.1 ending weight 207.8
Week 26
average calories 2063. starting weight 207.8 ending weight 207.3
Week 27
average calories 2028. starting weight 207.3 ending weight 207.2
Week 28
average calories 1961. starting weight 207.2 ending weight 206.2
Week 29
average calories 2130. starting weight 206.2 ending weight 205.70 -
Usually fast up & slow down is differences in sodium of the meals.
You may not for health need low sodium, but try to obtain it. Well, one meal with higher than average and your body is trying to hold on to it, perhaps it wants it. There's the water weight which takes awhile to drop.
So if you see those kinds of movements, perhaps look at sodium stats and discern a pattern.
I don't do low sodium, but if I had an accidental high sodium day before weigh-in day - I already know it's invalid and not being logged. Not even going to bother with it usually.
Great job on your maintenance ability though.0 -
Check your breads, lot of gluten before the jump up. Sodium isn't the only thing that makes you retain water. For me personally it is gluten breads. Being a bread addict, I have learned what it does to my weight, it ain't pretty.0
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Overall trend is its decreasing, so that's a positive!0
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Weekly Update (btw I can't believe how much this helps me. I can go back through and see, at a glance, what is happening with the average calories and the weight)
Week 30
average calories 1813 starting weight 205.7 ending weight 204.3
Total calories eaten 12696, Fit Bit burned 17907 -5211
Totally didn't mean to go so low but out and running around and lunch a few days was a protein bar and I just couldn't make up the calories after eating dinner like I planned.
Recap-
Started cutting:
Week 17
average calories 1968 starting weight 209? ending weight 207.6
Week 18
average calories 1994 starting weight 207.6 ending weight 206
Week 19
average calories 2144 starting weight 206 ending weight 204.8
Week 20
average calories 1876 starting weight 204.8 ending weight 204.2
Week 21
average calories 1867. Starting weight 204.2 ending weight 203.2
Week 22
average calories 1907 . Starting weight 203.2 ending weight 202.1
Week 23 & 24 vacation
Week 25
average calories 2063. Starting weight 202.1 ending weight 207.8
Week 26
average calories 2063. starting weight 207.8 ending weight 207.3
Week 27
average calories 2028. starting weight 207.3 ending weight 207.2
Week 28
average calories 1961. starting weight 207.2 ending weight 206.2
Week 29
average calories 2130. starting weight 206.2 ending weight 205.7
Week 30
average calories 1813 starting weight 205.7 ending weight 204.33 -
Great way to keep yourself accountable! Having a weekly summary lets you see what is going on from a different perspective. You are doing great! It's ok to go lower sometimes, just don't cut too much
Tereza
Team EM2WL0 -
Looking good!!0
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Do you know what I noticed straight away in your post that was part of the EM2WL lifestyle I loved from the start?
Weeks 23 & 24 vacation. It didn't even make a dent in your progress. Just normal life. Just kept on rolling. Do you know how many people gain 10-20 pounds from just eating 'normally' on vacation because they were eating so little beforehand? This is a huge NSV! Celebrate every win along the way. They may become so a part of your life that you don't even notice them, but stop and see how well you are doing.
Amazing!
~Ichel
EM2WL Ambassador and Moderator1 -
Ichel is right! Being able to enjoy a vacation without feeling bad or guilty is a huge NSV!
How did you do last week? Give us an update.
Tereza
Team EM2WL0 -
Week 31
average calories 1953 starting weight 204.3 ending weight 203.6
Total calories eaten 13654, Fit Bit burned 16783 -3129
Just plugging along here. Slow but steady.
I really wish I could do vacation without a weight gain but, alas, I can't. Usually gain about 5-7 pounds. Though this last vacation was a cruise lol. I didn't FEEL like I overate too much but the numbers don't lie. I was prepared for it though. I did start cutting early to lose the pounds I KNEW I would gain on the cruise. So I was prepared, I didn't freak out, just jumped right back in to the cut.
The biggest thing this journey has taught me is how to eat. I've been on this earth 47 years and I didn't know how to eat *hangs head in shame*. I was an expert at the game; "how little can I eat to still function". And I was really good at not counting calories at all because; "F it, I'm going to gain weight anyway may as well eat whatever I want". I had zero clue on how much I needed to eat to fuel my body properly.
They REALLY need to teach this stuff in school. I know they teach a little bit about eating healthy and eating everything in moderation but if someone, anyone, would have told me that because I was built bigger than my peers I would need to eat a little more than they did, it could have saved years of heartache and frustration. I just didn't know. I'm a smart person too and I just didn't know. How crazy is that?? Everyone, doctors included, all said that if you are overweight you are eating too much and I believed them. No one bothered to ask me how much I was eating (hello I was eating under 800 calories a day for 10 years and still gained weight). Even when I started MFP, the main board, someone told me that it was impossible to gain weight eating one meal a day, pretty much called me a liar. One person put a link to this part of MFP and here we are. Thank you random internet stranger.
And thank you guys for talking sense. The minute I read things here, I swear, tears came to my eyes. The answers were in these pages. I just had to read them and follow the advice. You have all helped me break the cycle that could never be won. No matter how hard I tried and how low my calories went, I would never win the weight battle. Now? I've got this. I will win. I KNOW that with ever fiber of my being I will win this...hell I HAVE won this, it's just a work in progress...
Recap-
Started cutting:
Week 17
average calories 1968 starting weight 209? ending weight 207.6
Week 18
average calories 1994 starting weight 207.6 ending weight 206
Week 19
average calories 2144 starting weight 206 ending weight 204.8
Week 20
average calories 1876 starting weight 204.8 ending weight 204.2
Week 21
average calories 1867. Starting weight 204.2 ending weight 203.2
Week 22
average calories 1907 . Starting weight 203.2 ending weight 202.1
Week 23 & 24 vacation
Week 25
average calories 2063. Starting weight 202.1 ending weight 207.8
Week 26
average calories 2063. starting weight 207.8 ending weight 207.3
Week 27
average calories 2028. starting weight 207.3 ending weight 207.2
Week 28
average calories 1961. starting weight 207.2 ending weight 206.2
Week 29
average calories 2130. starting weight 206.2 ending weight 205.7
Week 30
average calories 1813 starting weight 205.7 ending weight 204.3
Week 31
average calories 1953 starting weight 204.3 ending weight 203.64 -
@justsayingisall , your update gave me goosebumps, in an amazing way! Yes, learning that we have to eat right doesn't mean that we have to eat like birds, but eat to fuel our body so it can function right. I hate when doctors just assume things without really looking into it. Hey when you go on a cruise, you deserve to enjoy it it, consider it refeeding and shocking your body into believing that this is your new maintenance so you can lose more when you come back. Way to go!
May we repost your beautiful NSV? May we share your words with the fam? I'm sending you a PM.
Thanks you so much for writing this!
Tereza
Team Em2WL1 -
Your post made my spirit soar! That is how I felt. Like, why has nobody told me about this my whole life?! It is so fabulous every time I see someone else change their life.
Your story will help a lot of other people.
Love it!
~Ichel
EM2WL Ambassador and Moderator1 -
Amazing when it finally clicks, right? You get a sense of relief - your yoyo diet struggle is now over forever. Life truly begins, and you can truly enjoy it now. Its the one thing I felt when I finally let go, relief. Sure Im not where I want to be yet, but Im certainly enjoying my life now and smiling more and being more present, and thats what matters. Sounds like you got there too:)
Awesome awesome NSV
Kelly
EM2WL Ambassador and Moderator0 -
This is a great attitude. I'm not sure I am quite there yet, but I am inching closer.0
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Week 32
average calories 1926 starting weight 203.6 ending weight 202.7
Total calories eaten 13488, Fit Bit burned 17399 -3911
Here is some pics. I don't have any from when I started this journey, I erased those years ago. The first pic I had lost about 20 pounds already. I think progress is SLOWWWW but it is progress! I think the biggest change I see is from July of last year to June of this year.
Weight July of 2015 was 199#, so less than this June. The day pic was taken in June I weighed 203# About three months after The July 2015 I started EM2WL
I'm looking forward to getting this extra weight off, going back to TDEE and a little over and gaining more muscle!!
Recap-
Started cutting:
Week 17
average calories 1968 starting weight 209? ending weight 207.6
Week 18
average calories 1994 starting weight 207.6 ending weight 206
Week 19
average calories 2144 starting weight 206 ending weight 204.8
Week 20
average calories 1876 starting weight 204.8 ending weight 204.2
Week 21
average calories 1867. Starting weight 204.2 ending weight 203.2
Week 22
average calories 1907 . Starting weight 203.2 ending weight 202.1
Week 23 & 24 vacation
Week 25
average calories 2063. Starting weight 202.1 ending weight 207.8
Week 26
average calories 2063. starting weight 207.8 ending weight 207.3
Week 27
average calories 2028. starting weight 207.3 ending weight 207.2
Week 28
average calories 1961. starting weight 207.2 ending weight 206.2
Week 29
average calories 2130. starting weight 206.2 ending weight 205.7
Week 30
average calories 1813 starting weight 205.7 ending weight 204.3
Week 31
average calories 1953 starting weight 204.3 ending weight 203.6
Week 32
average calories 1926 starting weight 203.6 ending weight 202.70 -
@justsayinisall Wowza!!! Look at those guns! You are doing an amazing job, lady, be proud of yourself for increasing those calories and lifting! I have your NSV to share with the fam an was wondering if I could add your picture to it in the background. What do you think?
Tereza
Team EM2WL1 -
you have my permission to share. And thank you for the compliment. I've never done a side by side comparison of my pictures before and I don't measure really so it was interesting to see.2
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@justsayinisall you need to do it more often, the pictures tell a much better story! You are rocking it! The difference is huge, your progress is huge! Thanks for the permission!
Tereza
Team EM2WL1 -
Look at you - bulk planning already - what a mindset change, huh?2
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WOWOWOW!!! Look at those guns!!! Holy Moley!!
thats HUGE progress!!
What a huge mindset shift to start thinking about bulking. Wow!
Kelly
EM2WL Ambassador and Moderator2 -
@justsayinisall your quote came out on EM2WL Facebook page today: https://www.facebook.com/EM2WL/posts/1143937765658629:0
Thanks for inspiring us and letting us post it!
Tereza
Team EM2WL2 -
Weekly update
Week 33
average calories 1966 starting weight 202.7 ending weight 202.8
Total calories eaten 13,762, Fit Bit burned 17,731 -3969
The weight was right around the 202.7 for about three days. Then it jumped up to over 203. Yesterday it dropped down around 201 and something. Same ole' Same ole.
I went back and took a look at my settings and I realized I was set to 50/30/20 so I changed it to 40/30/30. We'll see if that does anything. I haven't been giving much thought to protein in a long while, not while cutting anyway. It's back on my radar though and it's giving me something to dally with.
Onwards and hopefully downwards I go!
Recap-
Started cutting:
Week 17
average calories 1968 starting weight 209? ending weight 207.6
Week 18
average calories 1994 starting weight 207.6 ending weight 206
Week 19
average calories 2144 starting weight 206 ending weight 204.8
Week 20
average calories 1876 starting weight 204.8 ending weight 204.2
Week 21
average calories 1867. Starting weight 204.2 ending weight 203.2
Week 22
average calories 1907 . Starting weight 203.2 ending weight 202.1
Week 23 & 24 vacation
Week 25
average calories 2063. Starting weight 202.1 ending weight 207.8
Week 26
average calories 2063. starting weight 207.8 ending weight 207.3
Week 27
average calories 2028. starting weight 207.3 ending weight 207.2
Week 28
average calories 1961. starting weight 207.2 ending weight 206.2
Week 29
average calories 2130. starting weight 206.2 ending weight 205.7
Week 30
average calories 1813 starting weight 205.7 ending weight 204.3
Week 31
average calories 1953 starting weight 204.3 ending weight 203.6
Week 32
average calories 1926 starting weight 203.6 ending weight 202.7
Week 33
average calories 1966 starting weight 202.7 ending weight 202.8
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Any issues with eating out more or meals where you are estimating a lot?
Sometimes seasonal changes makes that happen more, though it seems to be around Nov-Dec normally.
So into 10th week since vacation weeks, doing deficit eating.
Perhaps time to come out of diet and eat at maintenance for a week.
Good attitude though "Same ole' Same ole" - not linear many times.
Speaking of water wooshes - enjoyed any hard adult drinks lately?
Might make two fit the calories day before weigh-in - been known to cause that effect.0 -
Yes to the eating out, twice last weekend!
Funny you should say that about eating at maintenance for a week, I was just mulling that one over. Part of me doesn't want to do it because, you know, I haven't gotten this stupid weight off yet but then the part that has come here and learned...well THAT part of me is smarter and knows I should. The funny thing is I really don't feel like I'm dieting much. The days where I am really active (gym, bike ride, shopping and walking all day) and I get to eat 2200 calories for the day? pffft that's not a diet lol.
I totally wish there were adult drinks in my life. I only indulge like once every three years or so. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. One doc says don't drink at all, another says don't worry about it because my liver function tests were only abnormal for about a year and that was 7 or 8 years ago. That's what started this whole new healthy lifestyle. I was never a big drinker anyway so it's not like I'm missing too much. Now coffee...coffee I miss! every. damn. day *sigh*
Ok new game plan (thanks @Heybales, you are wise); Starting Monday I will take a week off and eat at maintenance. Come back, tighten up my food logging, hopefully stay out of restaurants lol, aim to hit my macros. I've never been one too concerned with macro's but what the heck, it will give me something else to concentrate on.
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The focus on macros is very helpful! Makes a bug difference.
And no, this is not a diet, it's a lifestyle, remember? The suggestion to eat at maintenance for a week is excellent, diets breaks are necessary to keep things going every 8 to 12 weeks to remind your body of where the maintenance level is. You are doing great progress, don't get discouraged. There's nothing wrong with eating out a few times a week, as long as those days don't become an all-out event and you keep your macros going.
Tereza
Team EM2WL1
