Thursday, May 12th

It doesn't surprise me that your % body fat dropped so much - you continued to lose quite a bit more weight and I believe your activity has increased as well. I think Devon made a good point when he said you are probably under fat moreso then underweight and I agree that you need a little reserve, especially as you age.

I also agree with Linda, that if you can get a DEXA to compare the results, you should. I plan to get a repeat Bod Pod after my plastic surgery (or if I drop more weight - but I have been pretty stable within 3 lbs. since my last Bod Pod). I also want to get a DEXA but will wait until all my plastics are done which is probably going to be in 2 years.

Interestingly enough I listened to a webinar today about the paradox of obesity and heart disease http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1356606 and heart failure  http://heartfailure.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=16 71245. The gist of it is the leaner groups surprisingly have the poorer outcomes. Other studies show that fitness "aerobic capacity" is a much better predictor of health then % body fat.

Paula

I saw a headline about what sounded like a recent study, too. 

In the past (we are talking a few years ago) I heard a speaker comment that one reason leaner groups had poorer outcomes (in previous studies) is because smokers tend to be leaner but (of course) had poorer outcomes.  So, they were confounding the results.  I didn't see comment about this study's population.....did they mention if they were all non-smokers?

Fascinating about what the inclusion of smokers does to the results!

I'm pretty sure at least one study controlled for those with COPD (mostly current or former smokers as you know). We (my co-workers and I) were thinking the same thing - must be co-morbidities that make the leaner folks not fair as well (i.e. COPD and cancer came to mind)

Aerobic capacity?? I'm hooped :(

Hey, Sleevers!

201.4

Going in the right direction. Perhaps if I would carb count and log I'd be going a little faster down the scale, but other than Tuesday, that hasn't taken hold. However, I am very pleased by my choices. Still a little higher in carbs than necessary, but still technically lower carb eating (under 100 grams is my estimate for yesterday, since I had fewer carbs yesterday than on Tuesday and Tuesday carbs were 85).

Sugar reset seems to be complete. I saw the Cowboy Bark in the cupboard last night and it was not a temptation. The thought that ran through my mind was to as Ron to dispose of it while I was at work tomorrow (today). This in no way means that any food containing refined sugar is safe for me. It's going to be quite a while before I can safely even try to deal with a food containing sugar.

I am not sure where I am in my "emotional" recovery from my foray through Sugar City. I am having some feelings of apathy and a little bit of envy (yes, it's true - though not becoming). I have had those types of feelings before. I have envied those of you who lose a little more than needed and I remember being especially envious of those who had trouble stopping their weight loss - like Ruggie and Rob (deactivated now). So when I see how well people are doing at maintaining or staying in their low range I have twinges of feeling less than. My own trip, sure, but I'm hoping that if I acknowledge these feelings openly they will be easier for me to deal with in the light of honesty. (My inner bout with envy does in no way mean I adore all of you any less! This is truly my own mental foible!)

Shell, thank you for the compliment. I should be clear that I do not see myself as fat. But I don't see myself as skinny either. You know, when one's ideal body belongs to Ryan Reynolds instead of oneself being anything but trim, slim and firm seems short of the mark. Now, I get I have a total body image hang up. I do. I stand on high and admit that readily. So, while I know my perception is skewed, I know that being in 34 and 33 waist jeans is still too large for me - both physically and emotionally. Do I have hopes or aspirations of achieving the Ryan Reynolds body? HELL NO! Do I want a slim, trim waist again without a muffin top in 32 inch waist jeans? YES!

Diane S., thanks for noticing the great angulation on the pups! They do have great rears. A couple of the shoulders are more upright than I would like, but several of them have good lay back and the shoulders overall are very clean. Three of the heads are spectacular. Looks like I'm going to have to keep a girl, unless that Blue Boy grows some neck. I'm pretty sure it will be Peach or Yellow, but I'm not ruling out Blue Boy until the fat lady sings!

Okay all that dog show talk is like a foreign language to me!  I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about!  Lol. But it seems the pups are looking like good stock. Yaaay!!

I wanted to respond to those feelings of envy - I honestly think that while some of us go through periods of 'trying to keep weight on' it's rarely - maybe never - a constant state. A year ago I was creeping up, sometimes seeing as high as 118, and it took effort to get things consistently south of 115 again. And I'll likely face that challenge again and again. Also I think both Ruggie and Rob have had to deal with some regain since the halcyon days of initial weight loss. So it's just a pendulum that swings and it can swing in the other direction again in time. Next year I may be envying your 'problem' keeping your weight up. 

It is funny because I know and understand exactly what you say on a logical level. Still there is that part of me that feels that way. I don't believe it is a rational feeling, which is why I put it out there. Just a quirk that I deal with that I don't want getting in my way, which I believe it has - you know, the pity party crap..."Poor me, it's so hard! Look how easy _______ has it. It's not fair." Therefore, I know I deserve ice cream and cookies to soothe my poor little soul.  

I can certainly relate the the whole feeling "less than" thing.  After being obese and manufacturing two humans with this body it's not going to "measure up".  Whenever I run into this problem, it reminds me to look at the yardstick I'm using to measure myself with.  What I usually find is that it's totally the wrong size!

You being here has really helped me, for one.  I SO appreciate you sharing the emotional part of your journey with all the ups and downs.  The tips and tidbits you share always leave me with one more tool in my toolbox.  Thank you for that.  It's hard to hear you say you feel "less than" when I feel you have shared so much with all of us.  I just want to give you a hug and tell you that you must have been "overflowing" in some way to be able to give back.  You have a surplus of insight, self knowledge, and compassion for yourself and the rest of us to be able to help us the way you do.  

Here's to a life of making our own custom yardsticks!

Aw, you made me smile. Thank you for the kind words. I do want to give back and this is the only way I really know how. I'm glad to know it helps.