I have a moment to rewrite my original post now:
A few months after I quit smoking - sixish years ago - I had similar things going on as I do now. Weight creeped up, despite a few months of eating around 1500 calories per day. I also lost the nails from my big toes, lost lots of hair, resting heart rate slowed down, lots of problems with ligaments/tendons (serious problems, one after the other) and brain fog that pretty well ended life as I knew it for more than a year.

Saw the doctor - had thyroid tests - and the results indicated I was on the hypothyroid end of normal. Not worthy of medicating in my doctor's opinion. So, I went off and found freeze dried/dessicated grass-fed cow thyroid - the stuff they used to use before they came up with the synthetic thyroid replacement. After a few months, I got the dosage right and I was back to normal! (Knee and shoulder surgery helped too). I had to keep adjusting it in the past couple of years as I lost weight but I've been feeling pretty normal.

Back in April of this year, I was a bit cash/credit poor and was not able to order those little cow bits. I ran out out in May and didn't order until June. I thought it would be okay, because part of me doesn't even believe any of that stuff was real - and I was happy to see what happened when I stopped taking them.

Over the past two months I have been feeling really overwhelmed with work, figured I was just busy. My resting heart rate has dropped - had no answer for that. Both big toenails are almost off (just hanging on by a thread) - figured that was because of my new boots. Can't walk well because of a wicked case of plantar fascitis in my left foot (not in the right because that one completely tore off with a chunk of heel bone a few years ago leaving me in a cast for 8 weeks) - thought that was because I was walking funny because of the toenails.

Today I realized - aaahhhh - it is the pills (or lack of pills).
And that is why my hair looks like hell too
I really hope this is what is going on.
Because now I have the pills.

push and beat up the doctor boo. Hope the cow bits work!

Dante awesome job and start (I'm sure you already are) planning. And there is no let down... plan for minimum equal time continuing as is; albeit with a few more cals. If shorter time period... great. If not... be ready!

No drug coverage for us lowly "self-employed" contract works ... lol. Normally not an issue - just had a post-pandemic - disorganized billing perfect storm

Cant wait for the freakin' foot to feel better. Seems to want to not be used - but that isn't a very practical thing is it???? Furry one isn't too pleased either.

lauriekallis wrote: »

Hope things level out on the lower end, Yooly!

Well it’s leveling but on the higher end. Time to put the brakes on 🖐

Looks like you had a really good push between July and February and then slowed down a bit? How active are you under normal circumstances? Oh yes, hi hi!🙋‍♂️

well ms behaviour analyst... I think you've identified a couple of behaviours (all-or-nothing) that would make you happier if you were to change and

I was more asking about weight loss trajectories as opposed to activity levels. Was trying to figure out what phase(s) you were in... Sounds like you're on summer vacation and perhaps a bit less stressed by the rewarding (but I am sure somewhat challenging) kiddos?

But make sure that you're not transitioning to less restrictive eating and extra stress at the same time without provisions for rebound regain management because that's a perfect storm as i have very personal reasons to know-- even when knowing it was coming!!!!

👍ABD.

At least we have a clock that works **more** than twice a day! 🤣 ABD!😘

Great attitude ABD, and great progress!

Wow that’s a whole lotta measurements! Now that you know yourself inside and out maintenance should be easier to plan. Congratulations!🎉

Awesome sauce and yes, your pictures were pretty lean mean fighting machine already!

And we can see from your fat mass measurements than in spite of still being at a BMI higher than 25 you are already at the lower end of having sufficient fat reserves.

So you sir are doing awesome. Now I realize you want to train and build muscle and I fully think you should train because, if nothing else, you will slowly start losing some of the muscle you still have from carrying the extra weight you're no longer carrying. So without appropriate exercise you will end up doing a reverse recomp unless you take counteracting measures.

But... I would be extremely cautious about the surplus. EXTREMELY. I don't know how many diets you've been on before. But the first six months are even more critical than the next six which are more critical than the next six and it continues that way for at least a couple of years if you want to avoid yo-yo issues.

And, respectfully, muscle mass or sacks of potatoes, the priority is lack of rebound regain. So unless you're using the regain as a way to ease and control the possibility of a rebound I would be extremely extremely extremely conservative on any surplus and gain goals. Having the implicit permission to gain MAY (MAY) make you slower to clamp down if you're overshooting. And don't forget that bodies naturally vary so there WILL be periods of gain during maintenance. Having an allowable level makes it POTENTIALLY harder to determine which level of gain is acceptable or when you have to clamp it.

AWESOME WORK. Now I want you here telling us all how well you're doing for multiple years in a row...

Many thanks for the kind words and advice guys! And yes, backsliding is simply not an option.

Height: 5'9 / Age: 39

Highest Weight (May 22 2019): 276.8 lbs
Started MFP for the 3rd time Oct 27 2021
Oct 31 2021 Weight 258.6 lbs
May 31 2022 Weight 210.0 lbs

LW 6/28 205.6 lbs
CW 7/01 204.6 lbs
Loss 1.0 pounds

Loss from 10/31/21 = 54.0 lbs
Loss from 5/22/19 = 72.2 lbs

Overweight BMI (203 lbs) lose 1.6 lbs
Healthy BMI (169 lbs) lose 35.6 lbs
Goal (145 lbs) lose 59.6 lbs

BELLA! This ain't bad, right?!?!?!?! But yes, looking at it I will just say a bit more of the same. Try to limit your ups and downs if you can. Don't go bit. Go small! Dampen the pendulum! This is, of course, my personal take based on my own reactions to big movements up and down and the concomitant mental and physical stress they seem to generate to me.