Miles Walked: 18
Amount Raised for the Buffaloe Scholarship: $15 ($455 total)
I'm getting frustrated. Not about the walk-canceling effects of last night's indulgence, but overall. Can eating the amount of calories (even if not the healthiest mix yet - I'm working on that) I'm eating, and working out as much as I am cause someone to gain weight to 340 pounds? I don't think so, so how is it sustaining me here? I feel like I'm already eating less (not on purpose - working on smartly increasing the amount) and exercising more than I'm likely to on a life-long pattern, so how is 340 the result?
Part of my frustration is that my discipline is steadily falling away. Surprisingly not on exercise (my 2 off days were the results of a weird week at work), but my better dietary inclinations are being nibbled away. I think I can reassert them (I can stop whenever I want to! isn't that the cliche?), but it does make me nervous about keeping this up. And it's tougher to keep myself in line when efforts don't lead to results. Right now exercise efforts are generally having results, but not so much food efforts.
Another surprise to me is I've had no thoughts about quitting. But at the moment, it just feels too hard to even think about much. And it leaves me with no reserves to tackle a surge at work, or other things that come up. It's a long, slow slog with no end in sight.
At this point I could use 1) encouragement (thanks to many of you who have provided that with no prodding needed, just still need it), and 2) ideas for snacks to improve my protein intake.
Thanks again for everyone's support.
Go Charles! Keep going Charles!
ReplyDeleteHey, diet and exercise is HARD. And one of the hard things now (but good things later!) is that it's easier to maintain than it is to lose. Keep going! You'll make it if you keep going and keep learning more about how the body uses food (you're a smarty-pants, Charles, LEARN about diet! Become an expert! It'll be easier for you to stick with it if you have the knowledge you need to feel in control). And not to sound like a Mom, but Charles, Darling, you've lost 20 lbs in less than 30 days. That's a LOT. But reality doesn't rush for anybody. Reshaping your body is definitely the tortoise race, not the hare. Keep at it. Don't give up because you're not going a zillion miles an hour. In this case, that's called "kidney failure." :)
One nifty thing is that the good habits you pick up while you're working towards your goal will become natural. I used to be a 2 Coke a day girl who never turned down a root beer. LOVED soda. Gave it up for Lent one year (yes, I still sometimes do Lent), and now, sodas don't even sound good any more. Too sugary and fake - yuck. So that's a healthy choice that's now so easy for me because my body and my taste buds got used to doing the right thing.
I think we actually want to eat right, but we're so surrounded by corporate advertising that tricks us into trying crap that sometimes isn't even food. And our bodies are pretty miraculous in that they find a way to make it - sort of - work. And then we get addicted. But when we've been off the food crack long enough to get it out of our systems, then the body says, "Hey... why did I even like that??"
I don't know if this will work for you, but for me, success is often about what I do first thing in the morning. Do I sit down at the computer and work on my novel, or do I play "just one game" of solitaire and read "just one article" about Britney Spears' latest antics? Do I start with a donut or with yogurt, honey, berries and almonds? (Hmm... donuts, another thing that used to be a staple and don't even sound good anymore). I find that my brain starts organizing the day based on the first things I do, and those "one game/article" days I rarely get much done - but the "get right to the novel" days? Well, you can tell I've had a lot more of those lately! And success feels awesome!
So, a challenge for you. Since I've stopped making my work out the start of the day (really, I'll do it around lunch. Swear I will... *sigh*) I've been crap at it. Next week, I'm going to drag my ass out of bed and do something active, and I'm going to do it because I'm trying to get regular about exercising, and I'm sending you the compatriots in health vibes, OK? Grab 'em - and grab some Fage Greek Yogurt (put the Yoplait down; it's gross and made with corn syrup, and the "Light" is a lying joke) with honey and almonds and blackberries; it's sweet, easy, tasty and you can eat yourself silly of it before it adds up to a pop tart. Or grab 2-3 eggs and make yourself a scramble with a slice of provolone, 2 slices of ham, and as much salsa as you want on top. You've started your day with a protein-foot forward and you'll be able to eat enough to feel like you had a nice meal, without feeling guilty!
You can do this, Charles. We're all SO impressed with what you've done so far. Don't let the slow, uphill path of this endeavor daunt you. That's why so many people give up. But you're smarter than that. You're stronger than that. No matter what the scale says, your efforts and attitude adjustment in declaring publicly to us and to your body that this is important are doing your body a favor, and it will repay you by extending your life, looking better, and feeling better.
Go Charles! Keep going Charles!
Hey -
ReplyDeleteYou're eating less that 2,000 calories a day?? Was that on a nutritionist's recommendation?? That seems like an awfully big change. My understanding is that 2,000 is quite low for most anyone -- doable yes, but for strapping guys like ourselves, I dunno..
You know and I know there are going to be hard times with this man. The graph is not going to look like a steady downward slope. Might be unhealthy if it did actually. Your body will need time to adjust, and to settle into it's new shape from time to time. It will also test you, as nature likes inertia, it will fight you to get back to what it knows as familiar. That's where your resolve kicks in my friend.
You're trying to establish a habit your body might not want to accept at first. But as I said once before, at some point your body will start feeling grumpy when you DON'T get out for that walk, or eat that extra slice o' pizza. That's when you know you're winning, dude.
As with many things in this world, it's about faith, dude. Keep the faith.
Frodo! (Or should I call you Peregrin Took, due to your inability to resist looking into the palantir?) You sound like you're having difficulty navigating the Dead Marshes. Here's hoping I can be more of a Samwise Gamgee than a Gollum...
ReplyDeleteFrustration is good, but you're targeting the wrong thing (in my opinion).
Your frustration stems from your perception that the effort and work you are putting into this goal is not equating to like results. Unfortunately, the body (especially in terms of diet and exercise) is not a math problem or SQL query. Sometime, a little work turns into a lot of results. Other times, a lot of work turns into little results. That's just how this works.
My advice: shift your focus to more of a long-term view. Success is a measure of miles, not feet; years, not days. By building good habits, you will eventually reach your goal... it just won't be in three months.
You are in the process of undoing the cumulative effect of many years of bad habits. At the moment, your body is trying to figure out where the new "normal" is. Harking back to our hunter/gatherer roots, it may be getting into a "panic mode" because your level of exercise output has increased but your dietary intake has decreased. This can make your body freak out and think it is starving... so many of the calories you intake (even if at a reduced level than "normal") are stored by the body rather than spent. In effect, this is a survival mechanism of your body to allow you to survive until you find your bit o' nutrition as you meander along. (I'm sure you knew all of this already, so apologies for the restatement of the obvious.)
Once your body figures out it is not starving, you'll start to lose weight again until you hit the next plateau. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Weight loss is a tough, tough battle. The key is developing good habits while focusing on the long-term goal. Focusing on the short-term can be fun and exciting, especially when the weight is flying off initially during your weight-loss honeymoon. Then, you hit the first plateau, the wheels come off, and the real work begins.
I believe in you and what you are doing. It is fantastic that you are not only electing to take on this journey but also that you are publicly sharing your progress, both good and bad. Keep it up!
Setbacks happen.
Entropy happens.
The key to kicking this thing in the nuts is getting back up and continuing onward, even in the face of a setback. Keep a steady log of your progress (plus and minus), but don't let the day to day analysis get to you. That way lies madness. Measure your milestones in miles, not feet.
You can do this. You will do this. Do the hard work and you will be rewarded in the long run.
Oh, and if you want to get frustrated, get frustrated at all of the bad habits that got you to where you are today but always believe in yourself.
As a suggestion for another motivation technique, take a picture of yourself shirtless and put it on the fridge/pantry.
All of this I say with the deepest respect and sincerity. So say we all.
--Suggs