Trying a Different Approach This Time (Hey, Look, I'm a Tortoise!)
Twibbly
Posts: 1,065 Member
Hello, it's me, the yo-yo. Again.
Instead of changing all the things at once, I'm taking small steps this time in hopes it will stick better.
Since the hare approach seems to result in me stopping too soon, maybe the tortoise approach will work.
Instead of changing all the things at once, I'm taking small steps this time in hopes it will stick better.
- This will be my fifth day without Dr. Pepper.
- I'm working on actually eating breakfast, even if it isn't the BEST breakfast (some days it's oatmeal, some days it's salami & mozz).
- I'm in a fitness group online that works on your mindset and all as well as nutrition and fitness and am going through all the missions with a few other ladies.
- I'm making sure I go outside and walk every day, even if it's just for a few minutes.
- I'm working on cooking most of our meals (it helps that we're too broke to go out to eat).
- I'm writing down what I'm eating, and using MFP mainly to figure out calories/macros, but not aiming at anything just yet.
Since the hare approach seems to result in me stopping too soon, maybe the tortoise approach will work.
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Replies
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From what I've learned from the old timers (young timers) who've paid their dues, the turtle approach is the sustainable approach.
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I definitely do better with small changes than big ones!1
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Good for you! Small changes everyday will create lasting results overtime!!!2
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Good for you. Changing habits is key. There is no magic. Weight loss/ maintenance takes focus and it is forever. Maybe not every day or every meal but the VAST majority. VAST majority.3
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I like your approach. Good luck with the Dr. Pepper thing. I've been trying to kick the Diet Coke habit. I still have one a week. 1
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EggToni, I've been using the sparkling waters without sweeteners, like LaCroix. They do indeed help when you're craving!1
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Never tried LaCroix. Thanks for the tip.1
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I love LaCroix. Some of the flavors are not my thing but overall it's a great beverage for when you're looking for something "special"1
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A lot of us are tortoises!! I'm not making a whole lot of progress as far as the scale goes, but I'm learning lots and hopefully instilling lifelong habits to health!2
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I took almost three and a half years to drop 40 lbs. I think that qualifies me as a tortoise in this regard. This was nowhere near linear with weeks where I dropped 2-3 lbs and periods of 2-3 months of staying even.
In the end, I think I am better for doing it at this pace as my metabolism stayed good. I have maintained this weight with little effort for about 9 months now.
The only rapid loss I had was when I switched from LC to keto and actually overshot my goal.
I understand if someone has 150 lbs to lose, going as slow as I did could seem crazy, but I think if people go in a more stair step fashion like I did and at a rate of 3 lbs or less per month on average, they will have far more long term success at maintaining when they reach their goal weight. They will also be less likely to fall of as they go because they are putting less pressure on themselves and are not cutting to the point of damaging their metabolism.
In reality is taking 5 years to lose 150 lbs unreasonable given I don't know anyone who has not taken at least 3-4 times that long to put on that much excess weight? We have to get past our need for instant gratification which was a contributing factor for most of us to put on the extra weight in the first place.8 -
Here are links to two books I've found very useful. The author, S.J. Scott, writes a lot about habits. "Habits" isn't nearly as exciting as "Miracle Breakthrough Recommended by Dr. Oz!!!" but it's the small but repetitive actions we adopt that add up to big changes.
https://www.amazon.com/Habit-Stacking-Small-Changes-Minutes-ebook/dp/B00JQHB67O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1494972878&sr=8-2&keywords=habit+stacking
https://www.amazon.com/70-Healthy-Habits-Better-Lifestyle-ebook/dp/B00CZBZRK0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1494973461&sr=1-1&keywords=70+healthy+habits2 -
I think different approaches work for each individual. I'm glad you found what works for you!! That's a big acknowledgement, in itself. I'm one of those people that has to be all in. To be honest I can be quite anal about it all, or so I'm told by my family. In the past I have either changed my WOE or exercises, never did them in unison. It was like I could not put the effort into both at the same time. This time I was already exercising regularly, a combo strength/ cardio class at the gym and walking daily 3-5 miles and being LCHF/Keto. It is the perfect combo for me.
I was a horrible D Coke addict back in the day! I look back and can't believe the amounts of it I consumed daily. Those big 40oz gulps from the gas station and that was just for the morning! I went cold turkey with my first time following LC, the headaches were horrendous and my mode!! OMG! My poor husband. But I haven't looked back since and it's been 5 years.3 -
The Dr. Pepper has not made a return.
I have probably about 30 pounds to lose, but I'll be happy if I just get in better shape (ie, my goal is not a certain weight, but to go do things).
I think I'm going to work on changing lunches next. I have fishies cooked from yesterday (in-laws decided we should go out to eat right before I put them in the oven, so I just cooked them and stuck them in the fridge/freezer) and will work on eating things other than bread.
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You are taking a good approach to this. I kicked Pepsi out of my life about 5 years ago, the hardest thing I have ever done. I can have one once or twice a year if there is no water or tea available now. Slow and steady is the way to go on weight loss, you will have peaks and valleys, enjoy the ride.
You might find this article helpful.
https://greatist.com/live/healthy-habits-tips-that-finally-made-habits-stick
Good luck on your journey.0 -
cstehansen wrote: »I took almost three and a half years to drop 40 lbs. I think that qualifies me as a tortoise in this regard. This was nowhere near linear with weeks where I dropped 2-3 lbs and periods of 2-3 months of staying even.
In the end, I think I am better for doing it at this pace as my metabolism stayed good. I have maintained this weight with little effort for about 9 months now.
The only rapid loss I had was when I switched from LC to keto and actually overshot my goal.
I understand if someone has 150 lbs to lose, going as slow as I did could seem crazy, but I think if people go in a more stair step fashion like I did and at a rate of 3 lbs or less per month on average, they will have far more long term success at maintaining when they reach their goal weight. They will also be less likely to fall of as they go because they are putting less pressure on themselves and are not cutting to the point of damaging their metabolism.
In reality is taking 5 years to lose 150 lbs unreasonable given I don't know anyone who has not taken at least 3-4 times that long to put on that much excess weight? We have to get past our need for instant gratification which was a contributing factor for most of us to put on the extra weight in the first place.
Amen, sister! And life happens.0 -
(My apologies if you're a brother)1
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JessicaLCHF wrote: »(My apologies if you're a brother)
Thanks for catching that.
I did have hair halfway down my back at one point, but even then I definitely did not look feminine.1 -
Some names are hard to tell. Weren't there some Hansen brothers tho? That will help me remember it. Oops!0
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Still no Dr. Pepper.
I have established that bad things happen if I skip my morning coffee, though. I may need to start throttling back on that eventually. Going camping next weekend, and if I make it through that without Dr. Pepper, I will consider the habit broken for now and move on to the next.
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JessicaLCHF wrote: »Some names are hard to tell. Weren't there some Hansen brothers tho? That will help me remember it. Oops!
Mmmmm Bop!
So, uh, yes. But they spelled it Hanson, I believe.2 -
retirehappy wrote: »You are taking a good approach to this. I kicked Pepsi out of my life about 5 years ago, the hardest thing I have ever done. I can have one once or twice a year if there is no water or tea available now. Slow and steady is the way to go on weight loss, you will have peaks and valleys, enjoy the ride.
You might find this article helpful.
https://greatist.com/live/healthy-habits-tips-that-finally-made-habits-stick
Good luck on your journey.
I have this open in a tab to read when I'm more awake.
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mandycat223 wrote: »Here are links to two books I've found very useful. The author, S.J. Scott, writes a lot about habits. "Habits" isn't nearly as exciting as "Miracle Breakthrough Recommended by Dr. Oz!!!" but it's the small but repetitive actions we adopt that add up to big changes.
https://www.amazon.com/Habit-Stacking-Small-Changes-Minutes-ebook/dp/B00JQHB67O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1494972878&sr=8-2&keywords=habit+stacking
https://www.amazon.com/70-Healthy-Habits-Better-Lifestyle-ebook/dp/B00CZBZRK0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1494973461&sr=1-1&keywords=70+healthy+habits
I already have Habit Stacking, so I'll load it onto my kindle to read while camping next weekend!0 -
So, I'm done with my nutrition class (except for a bit of stuff I'm still working on...ok, a LOT of stuff). We figured out that most of my digestive problems are actually due to stress - odds are, I haven't digested while in a parasympathetic state in years. During the class, I went up 10 pounds and 3% body fat just because I didn't have the brain capacity to get class done AND figure out what to eat, so we went back to default.
So...no more default.
I still haven't gone back to the Dr. Pepper (I've had 2 non-caffeinated sodas and a few frappacinos), so yay!
I'm drinking more water. Today I even ate *gasp* veggies. I've started planning meals with more veggies. I currently have my macros set at 30C/30P/40F, and plan to leave them there for a bit while I start actually cooking and planning again. Once I'm in a groove, I'll start lowering the carbs again.3 -
You got this Twibbly! start with eating real food, then get the carbs down 2
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Hubby pointed out that actually having a meal plan is my thing and not actually a requirement. I think we're going to try planning food just a day or 2 ahead (I'm in a position where it's easy for me to hit the grocery store more often) and work on it that way, 'cause everything in a meal plan generally falls apart by day 3 anyway.0
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Hubby pointed out that actually having a meal plan is my thing and not actually a requirement. I think we're going to try planning food just a day or 2 ahead (I'm in a position where it's easy for me to hit the grocery store more often) and work on it that way, 'cause everything in a meal plan generally falls apart by day 3 anyway.
In the oversimplified world of my oversimple mind, foods fall into 2 categories: Food and Poison.
[Hint - If it's got sugar (empty calories), 8-syllable words, or cyanide in it, it's, uh..
.]
Makes meal planning quite a bit simpler!
@canadjineh4
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