I don't know about your body, but once mine realizes the Hunger Games have begun she throws those first 7 pounds off like wool blankets on a summer night. My body gives those pounds up quickly and graciously as if to say, "Here my sweet, you've done enough. Good job. Now give me some food, dammit." When I continue to withhold large quantities of sugar, bread, ICE CREAM and alcohol my body gets mad. She fights back. I withhold food, she withholds weight loss. It becomes a standoff, a game of chicken. Who is going to blink first?
This is a dangerous point in a diet. You really have to want to lose weight more than you want to eat. Just to be clear, I never want to do anything more than I want to eat, so this is a conundrum. I must reframe the dynamic. Let's see, perhaps I want to win more than I want to eat? Yeah, sure. So that's how I try to get through it.
The time period after the initial water weight loss reminds me of the first couple of months with a new baby when you give, give, give and get nothing much in return. Eventually the baby smiles, laughs, and learns to play and all that effort is worthwhile. The baby in this scenario is the scales.
If you can outlast your body during these stubborn plateau periods, she will eventually surrender some more weight. Really, it is simple math when you are counting calories. You just have to think in terms of weeks or months instead of days. Right? Please tell me I'm right.
Of course, my body is a stingy, passive aggressive Miss Thing. Sometimes she'll only give up a half a pound. If that. Some weeks I try so hard and she slaps me upside the head with a weight GAIN. She doesn't play fair. She wants me to give up. She is a worthy opponent. I'm kinda scared.
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| S&J's Tree Face looking like I feel right now |
She may be worthy, but you're worthier. You can do this!
ReplyDeleteI sure hope you're right.
DeleteOh yes... I can SO relate. Hope you win the battle.... wish you the best!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement. Nice to know there are others out there who can relate.
DeleteMay the force be with you. I lost it all, once. Actually several times. The last was about 1990. There have been a couple more stressful times at work that took off a few more pounds, but I shrank a couple of inches, too, so I still exceed my ideal weight. Now this new responsibility for children has sliced off a few more, but not enough to come up smiling for being yet another inch shorter. Maybe we're never happy.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the shrinking. Hard to be happy about that. I wish I was the kind of person who responded to stress by losing weight, but unfortunately that's when I crave comfort food.
DeleteBeing aware of the dynamic is half (okay, maybe not half) thw battle. You csn do this. (We) can do this.
ReplyDeleteAre you and 8th Day still doing your challenges? Those posts were quite inspirational to me.
DeleteI am still trying to feature vegetables in my meals. However the last couple of weeks have been a trial. Re-booting. Maybe writing about it will help.
DeleteLoosing weight is unbelievably hard, both my daughter and I struggle with it. We live together so we kinda help each other. Is there any way you can have a diet buddy?
ReplyDeleteFor us, we've worked it out that we only eat two meals a day, breakfast and then a real meal around 3:00. It satisfies until about 9:00 and then it's fruit. However, last night I fell off that wagon big time...:))) I don't mean to tell you what to do...but it kind of helps to find out some helpful "tricks". At anyrate, I think you can outwit just about anyone or anything, Colette, even calories. Keep up the good fight!
I think it is OK to fall off the wagon from time to time if you pick yourself up and go on the next day. My husband is quite supportive of not eating snacks or having dangerous food in the house now, so that helps. And he is vigilant about biking/walking/swimming so that helps, too. Tricks are good. Thanks for your confidence in me.
DeleteYou described a diet so well. When I give myself a big goal, I find that after a few weeks that I am satisfied with only losing half.
ReplyDeleteHa! I know how that goes. I have a good bit of weight to lose (40 pounds...) to reach a healthy BMI, so I'm trying to hang on to the BMI number. I can't manipulate that. If I could, I would have a long time ago.
DeleteI am almost done with my second 10-day Shred. It is a time to flood my body with good food (fruits, veggies, plant proteins, my Juice Plus+, 1-2 smoothies a day), hydrate with plenty of water, get adequate rest and exercise 30 minutes a day. It is never about starvation or deprivation. I am to refrain from: gluten, dairy, caffeine, alcohol and processed foods. I did not give up caffeine either Shred. I have done pretty damn good with all of the other aspects, however. I did weigh myself and took some tape measurements this time, just out of curiosity, but I know my body. I feel better when I remove some things and I can see the definition in my abdomen, too. Set small goals for yourself, rather than looking at the total you want to lose. Reward yourself with something healthy (or non-food related) when you reach each small goal. Don't get discouraged if you see some gain or if you "fall off the wagon". Make the best choices and know that everyday is a new day. Please reach out if I can offer any help, encouragement, advice, whatever! Love you!
ReplyDeleteOh I was hoping you'd chime in on this post! I am not getting enough protein on this diet. I think I asked you once for a recommendation for protein powder, but can't find it. Something I could add to a smoothie that won't make it taste wretched. I would be happy to buy it from your side business if you are selling it. The tip to set small goals is a good one. Too often I go under because the whole amount is overwhelming. I will reach out to you. You and C really must come and visit. And P.S., I'm never going see any definition in my abdomen. :)
DeleteI forgot to mention, Colette, one more trick...
ReplyDeleteMy daughter took a picture of herself naked before she started her diet. When she gets discouraged she looks at it, works for her.
Me...no way!
Scary thought. For me, that is.
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