Women 200lb+, Let's Be Extra Awesome This August!!!

Thanks! @AlexandraFindsHerself1971

Totally agree with you - I just need to do it! I loosely make plans so that I have a general idea of what I need for my grocery run. But nothing concrete. Using the crockpot twice a week is usually what I try to do as we tend to have leftovers.

I'll be good one week, and then not have a plan for the next week and just try to wing it! And I'm not someone who enjoys cooking (recipes are my friend if you catch my drift lol), so I don't do so well when I don't already have something picked out.

I'm not really a snacker. My kiddo is usually ready to eat once we walk in the door, so it can be a mad rush to get him fed. He's in a needy phase and my husband isn't home yet so I have to keep him occupied. So he eats, we take an evening walk, and by then it's pretty much time to get him down for bed. So sometimes I don't even get started on "our" meal until after he's asleep - so after 7.

I like your weekend idea! I'll give that a try this weekend. Even if I can get things chopped/cut/etc. that would make it easier to get a meal together during the week.

Ignore the title of the book because the book is packed full of great information..it’s become our food bible for sure!

@MuttiNM - I didn't take a diet break. I kept a 1000 calorie deficit for a year. The month of June I decreased it to a 500 day deficit. Now I'm trying to eat at maintenance, but I'm probably still eating at a 250 calorie deficit based on my slow weight loss.

I had planned to make March "Maintenance March" because It was Portland Dining month and I had a vacation and out of town conference planned, but then Corona happened -all those plans were canceled and so I just kept up with the deficit.

I had heard about diet breaks and practicing maintenance, but I really didn't think I needed a break. Things were working out well for me and my weight loss wasn't stalling. But as I started doing endurance training in preparation for running the half marathon, I realized that I needed to give my body more fuel - I didn't have enough energy to run for 90+ minutes on a low carb diet,1000 calorie deficit (even with eating exercise calories). So while I didn't go to maintenance, I slowed down my weight loss and increased my carbs.

So, you know the guy AAdam who writes the physiqonomics blog? The one who wrote the article referenced by @eliezalot about scale weight fluctuations earlier in this thread? Well, I actually emailed him this very question back in May. And he ANSWERED it in his next blog! Here was my question and his helpful answer:

"Q:) I've heard recommendations that one should eat at maintenance for a month or two for every 10% of body weight lost to 'reset' their weight set point. The idea is that this will result in more permanent weight loss. Is there any science to back up this claim? I've lost 100 pounds over the last year by eating at a consistent calorie deficit and never had the desire to take a diet break because I don't feel deprived. My diet feels sustainable and I feel prepared for maintenance when the time comes. I'd hate to think I've set myself up for failure because I didn't take diet breaks along the way. What do you think?

A:) There isn't any science to back up that specific claim. That is, weight set points can be reset by manipulating the diet. And neither will there be because you can't.

Just to clarify, when I say you can't reset your weight set point, I'm referring to the idea that intermittent breaks from the diet cause physiological changes to occur that eventually make maintaining a lower body fat percentage 'effortless' (according to the claims).

The only way to establish a new set point–and I use that terminology very loosely–so you can maintain a lower level of body fat is to build good habits that are conducive to weight maintenance. Regular exercise (structured workouts and daily movement). Ensuring the majority of your diet is filled with whole foods that are nutrient-rich and consuming adequate protein.

With all of that said, diet breaks are still something I recommend and use with my clients.

We know dieting leads to some hormonal downregulation that can make it harder to stick to the diet. A short diet break could, potentially, help reverse some of the negative side effects of dieting.

And if a 1-2 week break increases energy levels and lowers hunger, it helps improve adherence and motivation for the next round of dieting.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, it gives the client time to 'practice' maintenance. People become so obsessed with losing weight that the thought of never eating in a deficit is alien to them. Forcing them to increase calories and practice life after dieting reminds them of the ultimate goal (spoiler: it's not the weight loss).

But whether you decide to implement a diet break is up to you. If you feel fine and things are progressing, then keep dieting for as long as you need to and implement a break when it makes sense, like coinciding a diet break with a holiday. You know, when we used to do stuff like that."

His answer was really reassuring and also gave me permission that next month when my energy did start to flag, that it was okay to start eating more!

So, in short: You do you. If you think its time for a deficit break, than it's time. If things are going well, keep going, until they aren't anymore.

@bluffgirl67 nice to see you. I like that you have 3 cardio days and 2 strength/yoga days. I am trying to get in 2 strength training days a week and cardio the rest to add up to 5-6 days of exercise.
@wanderlight Here is what my old chair was like:

Here is what my current chair is like. It isn’t that comfy just I can get in and out of it without spilling my drink:

I swam in the Guadalupe River.
Thanks for posting the Hamilton Dance Workout @pamiede. That should be fun.
@BrownSugar I like your post maybe because I do a lot of this. I like spicy hot food. I also drink ice water. I agree that coffee and tea have beneficial aspects to them. I do need to stand up more ever since I broke my leg I haven’t built up the amount of standing time I did before.

This Monday morning was very different than before. I started looking at job options even though I did that this weekend. I also contacted past supervisors for references. I haven't read the news and I didn't exercise until my husband was done with work and we could take a walk. I am checking in here rather late as well. I did find out that I do not have to do 3 job contacts a week until September for unemployment. So I only need to apply to jobs I want. I did log my breakfast at least. Anyway I do not like how this is throwing off what routine I managed to establish for myself.

I'm 55 years old, 5'4", 100 pounds overweight, with bad knees and plantar fasciitis. I was raped 6 weeks ago (yeah, unbelievable that someone that looks like me would be raped) and I'm feeling so disappointed with myself that I have let my body go to the point that I was not able to put up a good defense. I need to put my anger and my feelings into my work out. I would like to hear from folks who have a lot of weight to lose like myself. Thank you.

SW: 244
CW: 244

Goal for August: 10 pounds
Drink water/No soda
Exercise and/or walk daily
Log food intake


August 11:
August 18:
August 25:


Ultimate Goal Weight: 145