Perspective
pinuplove
Posts: 12,871 Member
Having been here since 2011, I've got a fair bit of weight history in MFP. I lost ~65 pounds in 2012-early 2013 to reach a low of 136. Over the next 5 years, through some ups and downs, I managed to re-gain 50 pounds.
Gah! How horrible! What kind of glutton was I to gain 50 pounds?? Then I broke it down by the numbers.
50 pounds in 5 years = 10 pounds per year = 35,000 extra calories / 365 days = 95.89 calories over maintenance per day. Let's say 100 just because I like round numbers.
Put another way, that's:
A (small) roll with dinner
An extra spoonful of the main course
A banana with breakfast
(Not even) one can of soda a day
Or:
One restaurant meal out per week, with appetizer and maybe a drink
A bottle of wine over the course of a week
A decadent dessert (and then some) (Example )
Or:
Parking as close as possible, always taking the elevator, and watching a TV show instead of taking a walk.
Do any of these little things look familiar? They certainly do to me. Now I've managed to convince myself of 2 things:
1. I'm not a horrible huge failure for succumbing to weight creep. I was just a little over-indulgent and a bit lazy over a long period of time.
2. Small things matter. This is just as applicable to weight loss as it is to weight gain. That's why forming small, good habits during weight loss is more effective at keeping the weight off than a crash diet followed by a return to your old behaviors.
I'm 12 pounds from my previous low of 136 and taking it nice and easy. I'm not doing anything I'm not willing to continue into maintenance. And it feels good Be kind to yourself, but also be consistent. Your patience will be rewarded.
Gah! How horrible! What kind of glutton was I to gain 50 pounds?? Then I broke it down by the numbers.
50 pounds in 5 years = 10 pounds per year = 35,000 extra calories / 365 days = 95.89 calories over maintenance per day. Let's say 100 just because I like round numbers.
Put another way, that's:
A (small) roll with dinner
An extra spoonful of the main course
A banana with breakfast
(Not even) one can of soda a day
Or:
One restaurant meal out per week, with appetizer and maybe a drink
A bottle of wine over the course of a week
A decadent dessert (and then some) (Example )
Or:
Parking as close as possible, always taking the elevator, and watching a TV show instead of taking a walk.
Do any of these little things look familiar? They certainly do to me. Now I've managed to convince myself of 2 things:
1. I'm not a horrible huge failure for succumbing to weight creep. I was just a little over-indulgent and a bit lazy over a long period of time.
2. Small things matter. This is just as applicable to weight loss as it is to weight gain. That's why forming small, good habits during weight loss is more effective at keeping the weight off than a crash diet followed by a return to your old behaviors.
I'm 12 pounds from my previous low of 136 and taking it nice and easy. I'm not doing anything I'm not willing to continue into maintenance. And it feels good Be kind to yourself, but also be consistent. Your patience will be rewarded.
85
Replies
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Best message ever for others struggling4
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Your post needs to be stickied.6
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Great post! Thank you.1
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Yep. Great post.
This is why I keep logging food and stepping on the body-weight scale a couple times per week. Catch it when it's a couple pounds. No more putting my head in the sand and ignoring the tightening waistband.
For that matter, making sure I have actual waistbands in my clothing.
Elastic is not my friend.14 -
You're awesome, @pinuplove.
100 calories a day is so miniscule. So easy to do. I love the breakdown.7 -
Amazing when you break it down to the point of that little bit of excess over the long haul can add up. Of course that can also apply to that little bit of deficit over a prolonged time. Thanks for sharing.8
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I think I need to print your breakdown and post it on my fridge! It puts things in perspective when you realize it's the small things that add up like that.1
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I think it's actually depressing that a single roll with dinner every day can have such an effect on one's weight over the years - a single lonely roll...like, c'mon! Who do I complain to? LOL14
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Aw thanks everyone! I'm glad some of you found it useful I've been on these forums long enough to know there's nothing new under the sun, and rarely start new threads for that very reason, but I really wanted to share this.
Oh, and I realize you could just as easily gain weight from overeating 100 calories of broccoli every day. It's just that most of us don't do that, which is why I focused on what I did. Before someone else says it16 -
TheFlyOnTheWall wrote: »I think it's actually depressing that a single roll with dinner every day can have such an effect on one's weight over the years - a single lonely roll...like, c'mon! Who do I complain to? LOL
The person putting the roll in your mouth without compensating for it in another way.5 -
I'll also add that she's done this by regularly eating peanut butter, which is truly an achievement.5 -
Awesome! Way to go! I think this way as well in breaking down data, but you made it happen, what an inspirational post!0
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fitoverfortymom wrote: »
I'll also add that she's done this by regularly eating peanut butter, which is truly an achievement.
What is life without peanut butter?8 -
Wonderful post. Some tough-minded arithmetic really puts "weight creep with aging" and similar quibbles into a context. Well done!2
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great perspective. i'm a big fan of the extra bread roll and celebrate that awesome close parking spot1
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Extremely eye opening!! I've gained approximately 33 lbs. and this posts really hits home!1
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Exactly! It’s amazing how eating something as little as just an extra cookie or something like that a day can lead to so much weight gain over time. It’s really no wonder how people wind up overweight. Maintaining a healthy weight takes a conscious effort for most people.2
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I’ve run my numbers this way before and it’s kind of depressing knowing I’m just a cookie away from returning to my highest weight (if I were to have an extra 100 calories or so every day) So I must remain vigilant! For me, keeping up my activity is key as well as weighing myself once a week to catch any creep-up early enough to stop it in its tracks.1
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Excellent post!1
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