Monday, April 11th, 2016

127.4 this AM. Down .2 after measuring by sight, and taking pictures of what I ate, to log when I returned home. I am increasing in confidence that good food choices are becoming more automatic. I am thinking like a formerly obese individual who is focused on protecting her skinny. Last week's conversations about fuel v. treats was critical in this evolution. 

Devon, loved your evolving opinion of the 4-5 pound range yesterday. Your thinking is aligned with mine ! The piece I'm chewing on is the level of physical activity that is becoming "normal" during the summer. I am always on the go with lots of unstructured lifting and movement included (mulch bags, raking, mowing etc.). I'm beginning to suspect that 1500-1650 ish calories may be the minimum I need to maintain on those types of days. That seems like an ENORMOUSLY large number... triple what I ate for so long. I'm not sure that this activity level is sustainable in the winter, and I worry about being able to dial back my calorie level. Is there such a thing as a planned seasonal shift in target range ? I'm not talking about a ten pound difference, but if summer settles in to 126-131, for instance... is 130-135 "acceptable" for the winter as long as body measurements / clothes fitting remains constant ? Yes... I obsess....I mean plan.... ahead.

125.4 today, down a smidge!

I too have been staying within a 5 pound range, probably closer to a 3 lb. range for quite a while. It is probably somewhat normal to have seasonal fluctuations in weight and as long as the clothes fit and you don't keep trending upward each season, I think it is probably okay.

Work today, scouts tonight (service project of picking up trash along the roadside). Did 1 hour on the treadmill yesterday. Besides the service project tonight, not sure what I will get in today, perhaps a 30 minutes treadmill jaunt at lunch during work.

Happy Monday!

Morning

Lorna thank you for letting us know how you are. Thinking of you.

calories 1267    Cut the grass 1.5 hours

A new week and new beginnings.

160.8.  Down a little bit again today.  Which baffles me.  Because I have been totally NOT on program for the past 5 days.  Today I'm going to start back to eating straight.  So if I see a gain on the scale, you guys must remind me that it's not because I started eating healthy (yes, I really do sometimes tell myself that!) but rather the scale catching up with me.

DH is doing better, but I do feel guilty leaving him at home to fend for himself.  I did leave him plenty of eats though.  Yesterday I made him breakfast of waffles and bacon--which I never do.  We had a late lunch of roasted turkey breast, baked sweet potato, and green bean casserole.  And then dinner was sandwiches.  I guess it could've been worse.

I may try to duck out of work after lunch and/or take some work home.  Hoping DH feels well enough to return to work tomorrow or Weds, but he's still on pain medicine so doubtful looking for tomorrow.

My sister posted a photo of us on IG from the day after our surgeries.  We looked even worse than normal because of the fluid from surgery and not wearing makeup, etc.  Those kinds of photos cause mixed emotions.  For the most part, outta sight outta mind.  I don't like looking at fat pictures because I tend to only focus on my weight and it reminds me of the heartache.  But I also hate that it causes such intense sadness in me--shouldn't I of all people know that there was more to it than my weight?  This particular photo she posted encapsulates the mixed emotions so well because it's the last photo I have with my granddad as we spent time talking with him only a few hours before his death.  I guess a picture is not worth 1000 words.  There's so much more to us beyond the number on the scale.

Have a great day!

Happy first day back from Spring Break!

122.0 today, on the dot AND let's celebrate that I came back from a week of vacation in my desired weight range....even at the bottom of it. 

Gosh, I have a busy schedule today....must be on task to make it to yoga after work.  I was also hoping to incorporate a quick lunch walk starting today as my steps on work days are typically embarrassingly low.  I tend to work thru lunch, esp on busy days, so we shall see. 

Have a great day!

Shel

Okay, this one is getting its own post. I'll do my own stuff later. Diane's question raised the red flags and set off a peel of alarms!

Diane, you wrote. "Is there such a thing as a planned seasonal shift in target range? I'm not talking about a ten pound difference, but if summer settles in to 126-131, for instance... is 130-135 "acceptable" for the winter as long as body measurements / clothes fitting remains constant? Yes... I obsess.... I mean plan.... ahead."

The first thing I thought of when I read this was, "Ah, a fat person's rationalization thinking!" Sorry, if that's harsh, but that's how I see it - even after sitting with it for a while.

First, let's look at how many calories you actually burn doing yard work - not too many. Maybe a few hundred at best if you work for hours upon hours in the garden hauling and lifting. Remember for me an intense lifting session burns about 150-200 calories in 45 minutes. I am drenched with sweat with a super elevated heart rate.

Also, the range you suggested IS fundamentally a ten-pound range: 126-135. Knowing what I know after what I've been through I can without a doubt say that having a winter weight vs. a summer weight is not what I would advocate. I personally think it is dysfunctional thinking that brings us to believe seasonal weight differences are okay. I think the better option is to monitor on a daily and weekly basis to look at trends and adjust them as necessary.

1500 calories per day seems like a completely rational and normal calorie level to maintain your weight. If during winter it is a little too high, adjust the calorie level down a tad. I think you will be very sorry if you allow yourself to gain 9+ pounds next winter when it comes time to lose the extra weight for spring and summer.

I will stress again that additional calories added in the form of healthy fats is the way to go here. It is very easy to switch back and forth between lower fat and higher fat choices without dialing back volume, thus alleviating the anxiety of deprivation.

I completely understand your thinking. I really do. I just need to point out what I see as the flaws. I've been down this road - maybe not exactly with the same rationalizations, but similar. In my mind you are already looking at ways to add food and weight back on. I promise you, your weight will level off and stabilize.

Focus on maintaining for now and don't borrow trouble from the future.

I have to agree! The farther you are out, that 10# is a ***** to lose.  I know!!!  For me, exercise has not really factored in to my weight loss.  Exercise is necessary to keep me strong mentally and physically and moving.  Diet for me is the key.  I can't exercise my way out of bad food choices.  

When I first read this, I had to log off and take a walk.  In my head, I didn't hear it the way it was reflected back to me.  BUT, what you reflected back IS what I said.  I agree, I can see where, in essence,  a nine pound range would "permit" a seasonal eating philosophy.  I don't want that.  I can certainly see where that thinking is "stinking". I am working to stabilize my weight and let my body settle out where it wants to be.  I'm going to stay focused in the present and chill until my Bod Pod and one year check up. Data collection... one step at a time.  I feel like a little kid on training wheels. Sometimes the sidewalk gets bumpy and I need them tightened.  You guys (Devon, Bonnie & Stephanie) have effective wrenches !!

I'm glad you understand that my post was meant to help - not judge. When I see myself so clearly in someone else's writing I feel the need to sound the alarm, so to speak, so that person doesn't follow the path I took.

I am sorry, if at first my post caused a negative reaction or hurt your feelings or you felt judged. I truly wish I had taken early maintenance as seriously as you, Paula, and Michele. I do know the path I took is the one I had to take, but if I can veer anyone else off this path, I will do it! 

I can appreciate the struggle to find balance. It will come! I'm a proponent of sticking with a weight number, no matter what's going on. If the number starts deviating in either direction,  calorie adjustments get made to stabilize at the number.