30lbs to lose... Started AGAIN yesterday (Darn Lockdown Snacking)

I have now survived 6 days at a strict 1,600 cut-off and dropped 4.3lb. Obviously part of that is water weight, but I don't really care, I feel much happier that I've dropped back down below 170lb. For me, psychologically, the first two digits always mean a big deal.

I did want to eat mindlessly yesterday - London was put back into lockdown with only a few hours' notice (with effect from this morning) and everyone was fleeing the city to beat the official deadline for not breaking the law. I was never planning to travel, but I did feel a bit weighed down by the general sadness. Some people are now staying put on their own who haven't spent the last few months psyching themselves up for this, and I do really feel for them.

Anyway, I didn't succumb to the sadness/boredom and I'm really pleased with the scales. I feel lighter today, per the scales, physically and mentally. Inspired by Barb, I have also just had a grocery delivery of things to make soup with!

@kcooper20202020 If you want to come join us in shifting the Covid pounds, you would be very welcome. What are your goals?

Katrina, I know I'm into dangerous ground when I quit logging. My brain can't seem to work out a reasonable amount of food without me calculating it in MFP - I think anyone who can manage to roughly eat at a normal allowance without a calculator is some kind of genius. Thanks for the reminder - I've now started back on the Vitamin D too. Should help with all the dark days and nights.

Barb - the lower goal did honestly work for me for a few months in the summer, but for whatever reason, my body wants more calories now (even though it's lighter and needs fewer calories now than it did back then). I've come to appreciate that weight loss is part science and part magic, so rely a lot on what my body is telling me. I use the science to an extent, but I also keep an eye on the scales, my hunger levels, and how I generally feel in myself. And try not to lie to myself to manipulate the answer I want!

I agree with you about logging. I think for me, if I don't log, I don't know how badly I've fallen off, and I find it hard to then understand how I can recover. If I 'know what the damage is', I feel like it's something I can overcome. If I don't know how much I've overeaten, I feel a bit more hopeless. Different things work for different people, but with me, I like to have some numbers to work with.

If I go off the rails, my body gets used to it, so I have to impose some additional rules for at least a week to retrain my appetite. I get really mindful of the timing (spacing my food out to avoid hunger pangs - I don't know how anyone on One Meal A Day gets by!), I pre-log/pre-portion, I set a number and hold myself accountable to it. I relax things a bit more and go back to a more normal routine once I get through that reset week and my body relearns that it's only getting a normal allowance each day, and not to expect a giant binge.

I suppose it would also be helpful to be more aware of macros and focus on getting more protein than normal if trying to sort out hunger spikes during the day - that's another thing that can work for me. Binging on sugary things is a double threat because it messes with my appetite and my energy levels, and when I'm tired, I lose control of understanding when I need to eat and when I don't.

There are lots of things to try, anyway. Recognising that you're slipping, Gabi, is the first step to stopping slipping.

Catherine, congrats on adhering to your 1600 calorie limit for six days and losing several pounds! I’m so sorry to hear about the strict lockdown you all are facing in London. I’m sure it has to be demoralizing for so many people! At least you get to start it with a nice weight loss! I’m excited to hear you’ll be making some nice homemade soup. That always soothes my soul!
I’m like you in that I have to log my food- I can’t seem to eat the right amount of food without logging. I tend to be way over or way under.

Gabi, you have me intrigued by that phone call! But don’t feel compelled to share! You did a great job getting enough exercise to indulge in the wine! Well done!

Welcome @kcooper20202020! This is a really supportive group of women!

I don’t think I posted yesterday but I did log and did okay. Ate too much sugar but not over on calories. Seems to be a trend this month. Will definitely need to address...starting January! Don’t want to make myself feel deprived over the next week, with homemade Christmas treats.

My day:
Exercise: ✅
Tracked: ✅
Under: ✅

Gabi, I know what you mean about the dreaded phone call! My mom misbehaves as well. She lives in assisted living and they’ve had cases in her building so they’re supposed to stay in their apartments. Meals are delivered to them 3 times a day. She finds every excuse to take off down the hall, just to see what’s going on. She says she wears a mask, but she lies. I keep telling her she has no reason to leave her apt and if she gets Covid, none of us kids can visit her in the hospital. She’s one of those who just won’t be told what to do. Maddening!
I live in TN now and we have the worst Covid stats in the country right now. In fact, Knox co has more cases than 5 or 6 states do. I refuse to go anywhere without my N95, yes the one that fits tight on my face and is not comfortable. Otherwise, I get too angry when someone invades my space and is ignoring the mask mandate. Our county has a mask mandate but not the entire state. I’m so tired of politics playing a role in this battle. Let’s get this done already!

Catherine, how are you coping with the strict lockdown? I’ve been thinking about you quite a bit. I’m praying things look up really soon!

Exercise: ✅
Tracked; ✅
Under: ✅

Catherine, I love your positive attitude! It’s contagious! I believe 2021 will be a better year, at least by summer time. It definitely is something to look forward to! You’ve done an amazing job with your weight loss! When lockdown is over, you can really be proud of your trim body!

I worked so hard today getting things ready for my daughter and her boyfriend to come for a visit. They are very careful, and have both been working from home for months.
I made a lasagna that I can just put in the oven on Christmas Day. It makes things easier.
It’s funny, after I finished logging, I was 357 calories under, but MFP didn’t say I was under calories. Hmmm.

Exercise:✅
Tracked:✅
Under: ✅

Catherine-down 35lb is excellent work and keeping the down trend in the winter? Wonderful.
I never needed big audiences to over-serve myself, so lack of parties this year, might not be a big help, unfortunately.
I will cook some options, at request, stick to ice cream or anything homemade as desert, and done. No extra planing, just got some presents and a pretty stark decor.
One good thing at current work is that the fiscal year ends in the summer, so now it’s just a regular month end. I do remember other places where we were having people taking vacation, shorter weeks due to holidays, employees on different time zones and to deal with year end on top of all that.
Barb- having your daughter and her boyfriend over for Christmas sounds very nice. I like your prepare and freeze the lasagna, idea- I never knew how to boil pasta so it won’t be too much when reheated/cooked.
I keep planning to do that with stuffed cabbage, because it’s so much work, but so far I didn’t .
I’m going to try to catch up with sleep, that’s my plan for now.

Thank you Gabi! I didn’t freeze the lasagna. If you prepare the lasagna a day or two ahead, you don’t have to boil the noodles. So that’s what I always do. (I got tired of the noodles falling apart after I boiled them!). If it’s only a day or two early, no reason to freeze the lasagna. Just take out of the frig about 30 mins before you want to bake it and bake as usual. Easy peasy!

Katrina, I’m so sorry to hear that your uncle passed away! I know you are missing your Dad and wishing you could be with him. It is so hard to lose a family member. Losing a family member at Christmas is like an extra punch in the gut! I hope you can relax and enjoy some time at Mat’s parents’ house. I know it’ll be tough.

Katrina I’m sorry to hear you are coming off a long and hard week, but most of all I’m sorry to hear about your uncle. Glad you are not alone these days and spending time with Matt and his parents.
Barb- yes , slow pace is good . Wait. Does it mean you ran less?
Catherine- how’s your plan going?
Yesterday I cooked part of the day, and today we spent hours on calls with the family away, or eating, playing games with the ones here. Loved it.

So far a good weekend. We went for a ride on our various 4 wheelers 6 wheeler and a snowmobile today. Annual tradition is to go for a ride, park in the middle of the woods and make a fire, and roast sausages for lunch before heading back. New this year, the machine I was riding threw the chain so mat had to tow me out with the 6 wheeler... it was fun though and it's been a no-frills easy going Christmas. I haven't logged anything but tried to eat less than my eyes thought I wanted to today. So far a welcomed break from the craziness of work. Finished crocheting mat's mom a matching cable hat and scarf. Found out my friend back in Idaho is having a boy, so I gotta get busy on his blanket. Made her daughter one, but it wasn't done til she was 2... hoping I'll be a bit quicker on this one. Hope you're all enjoying the holidays!

My uncle was struggling with his health. Had kidney issues, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and heart disease. Plus he had always been overweight and had really bad hips, but they wouldnt replace them due to weight and his young age (40 when he found out he needed hip replacement) then it was weight and disease later. I think he was only early 60s. He struggled a bit with depression a couple weeks ago but i think he was back to his happy self prior to passing away. Its hard to be unhealthy and unable to do what you like and then the pandemic on top of it all really sucked. Hate that we have to say goodbye so soon, but glad he doesn't have to spend the next who knows how many years a prisoner of his own body. Yet another personal motivator for me to work hard at trying to be healthy so I don't end up feeling like a prisoner of my own body. He had a different father than my dad but my dad is also overweight and borderline diabetic. We have history of cancer, heart disease, weight control issues etc. I want to control what I can while I'm still able to prevent at least some of the things if I'm able to.

We can toast our persistent effort at becoming our healthier selves and commitment to continued efforts!

Katrina, I missed your post before posting mine! Sounds like you had a fun outdoor adventure! I’m assuming it was pretty cold if a snow mobile was involved!
Look at you with your crocheting talent! That’s great! Plus it gives you something to do in the evenings that doesn’t involve mindless eating!
I’m sorry your uncle suffered so many health problems. I think at a certain point, it’s easy to feel powerless to make any change with weight or exercise. I’m so glad you are allowing this to motivate you to be the healthiest you can be. I know we can’t prevent every health issue but being at a healthy weight, eating healthy and getting regular exercise certainly help.
I like your idea of what we should toast on New Years Eve!