DCarr10760's Weight loss diary

[MidGaGuy]

I don't know what made me think of this now, but I've been making mental notes of little changes I have made to how I eat. There are some good ideas that I want to formalize (in a post) and perhaps people might find them interesting.

Eat Intentionally

By this I mean if you are going to eat a meal, or a snack, do it mindfully. Don't eat in front of the computer or the TV, for example. Or at your desk when you are working. Pay attantion to your food while eating it. My thinking is that when your attention is elsewhere you robotically ingest your food, and it robs you of the pleasure of eating. You miss out on much of the experience, and are left not fully satisfied. It is too easy then to eat too much.

Learn to recognize hunger

Being fat all of my life I rarely let myself get hungry. I gorged at meals and before my body had time to deal with the mass quantities I'd consumed, I fed myself again. I snacked constantly. So for me there's always been confusion between being hungry and just wanting to eat.

In my current eating plan, I do feel hunger now. It really isn't at all unpleasant, in some odd way it is comforting. My body is now working the way it ought to. But there are also times when I just want to eat. These are the dangerous times, because I may or may not actually be hungry, just accustomed to eating at these times or the desire is triggered by the way I feel emotionally..whoah! there be the dragons of obesity!!

Taking a moment to ask myself before eating: "am I actually hungry? or is it something else?" has been a big help in the inevitable moments of stress induced weakness.

Strategic rulebreaking

My life cannot stop because I am regaining my health, living my life requires occasional forays into eating situations that are less than optimal. These have recently included: pizza parties at work, customer lunches and dinners with friends. These are a quandry, to be social I have to partake to some degree, but it is not always socially appropriate to announce, "I am on a diet"

So what I have learned is to take a moment to plan ahead what you will eat and adhere to your plan. This is the strategy. If you decide before eating anything, "I will allow myself two small pieces of pizza and I'll drink water instead of soda or beer" and then you stick to it, you will have done the least damage to your overall plan, while still being able to enjoy the party. You will also have successfully achieved this small goal and will feel better about yourself.

Eating in group situations

To avoid overeating without being too obvious

1. Eat slowly
2. When speaking, put your fork or your food down onto your plate and pay attention to speaking or listening fully.
3. If the portions are huge, cut the amount that you know you should eat off and eat only this. If questioned about this, you can always say "It's very rich" or "I had a really big breakfast."

Commitment to exercise

Plan ahead for when you will exercise in a formal way, a chart or post or something. Treat it with as much respect as you would treat a Doctor's appointment. Never miss a scheduled workout. Reschedule it if emergencies arise. But don't miss them.

So that is a start, more will come I am sure.

David C

That was a great post there David . The paragraph "Learn to recognize hunger" really hit home with me . Thanks for sharing this and keep up the great work on making those scales go down.
Paul

 

[DCarr10760]

Thanks Paul!

So I had my lunch with my oldest son and it was great! I ate according to plan and it was a nice, relaxed meal. We agreed to do it again at least once more before he's off to college.

Seems like yesterday I was rocking him in my arms, singing him to sleep...

David C

 

[DCarr10760]

So not much new today, I didn't walk this am due to the downpour we are having, got all the way to the end of my street before giving up, so I'm a bit bummed about it. Maybe I can fit a walk in somewhere later today, It's getting time to clear out the cellar enough to find the lifecycle and the weights. It'll be Winter before you know it.

Yesterday I was right at the 2000 calorie mark, A bit low, but I didn't feel like cramming something into my gaping maw just before bed so that I could say I hit the ideal number.

Have a great day everybody!

 

[Boam46]

So not much new today, I didn't walk this am due to the downpour we are having, got all the way to the end of my street before giving up, so I'm a bit bummed about it. Maybe I can fit a walk in somewhere later today, It's getting time to clear out the cellar enough to find the lifecycle and the weights. It'll be Winter before you know it.

Hey David... I'm glad to hear you had a great time with your son.

That downpour must be the one that caused the flashflood that make my father's car float up the street this morning!

Its great that your not gonna let it discourage you from exercising today.

~Jenna

 

[DCarr10760]

Good Morning Friends!

I just got back from my walk and ate breakfast:

1 Cup Irish oatmeal, w/2 T. of flax meal in it
1/2 c blueberries
1 c milk (2%)
1/4 cantaloupe (Soo ripe and sweet)
Cup of coffee

That's pretty typical. I really like fruit and the past several "diets" I've been on have been the low-carb variety and fruit was not a big part of that and so I sorta stopped eating it.

It's a bit low on protein too. But I was too lazy to boil an egg.

Anyway I'm firmly down to 250 now and flirting with 249 so things are progressing. Like lot's of people here I am looking forward to cooler weather and exercising in the high heat and humidity is challenging (for me).

I hope you all have a great day!

David C.

 

[MsGhettoBooty]

Good Morning Friends!

I just got back from my walk and ate breakfast:

1 Cup Irish oatmeal, w/2 T. of flax meal in it
1/2 c blueberries
1 c milk (2%)
1/4 cantaloupe (Soo ripe and sweet)
Cup of coffee



Anyway I'm firmly down to 250 now and flirting with 249 so things are progressing. Like lot's of people here I am looking forward to cooler weather and exercising in the high heat and humidity is challenging (for me).

I hope you all have a great day!

David C.

OOOoh yum... that breakfast sounds delish! I love blueberries with a passion. I'm thinking you're going to be in the 240s by the end of this weekend. Sheesh.. men and their super powers to lose weight quicker. Anyways, keep hyrdrated for the next couple of weeks, doll. The cool weather will be coming soon and that's when we'll ALL kick it into high gear! YAH!!! Wishing you a great day, David.

-Sheryl

 

[DCarr10760]

Hi Sheryl!

Yes, I'm really looking forward to cooler weather, having neither a generous ass-crack or cleavage to tuck an oscillating fan into I really suffer!

I suppose I could tape it...ouch! never mind!

This AM was nice, much cooler and not enough rain to dampen the spirits.

I'm kind of hitting my stride in terms of eating. Every day I hit my numbers and if anything I'm on the low end of the range. I am beginning to feel good, lighter and more energetic. My wife has noticed this, (Giddyup! Yee- Hah!).

Quite a contrast between now and how I felt when I started. When I started I felt older than my years. I was winded at the least bit of strenuous movement and the weak feeling permeated everything I did. I had nearly accepted this as an age-related inevitability. Thankfully, I was inspired to give it one more try. Thanks in no small part to you all here.

Now I feel entirely different and very hopeful. It is a very dangerous time. I am nearing the low end of my more recent weight range. (275 - 245). At 245 I begin to feel better and look better (big, not fat).

It is during this time that I am in my stride with eating and exercising and begin to believe that it will me self-sustaining. It isn't. It is for a while, but the bad habits trickle back, the weight-loss ceases and the pounds begin to trickle back one by one.

Eventually I realize that I am putting weight back on but as often as not, since my health is not the focus anymore, I ignore it all. I don't weigh myself, not wanting to come face to face with the fact that I am drifting out of control. Soon I just give up and almost defiantly eat myself into oblivion.

My fear is that this will happen again, and again and...then I'll die.

The answer is, of course, to remain focused, to remain vigilant.

What I am doing differently this time is being here, being accountable to people beyond myself. Reading about other folk's successes and trials, and giving advice to others will help keep my mind focused through the rapids and into the calm.

David C

 

[Boam46]

Good Morining David,

Happy Friday!!!

It is definitly harder to stay on track once we hit certain points. I've gone down and back up countless times. I refuse to do it this time. You have the determination and strength to keep going... it really shows
We'll be glad to help you stay accountable and on track once you hit the low of 245 ... boy will you be there soon... guys weight just melts off... it amazes me

You are doing soo great... keep up the great work and the heat will soon subside and soon you'll be asking for just a little bit of heat so your muscles don't get soo cool while your outside (winter track in high school was quite an experience LOL).

~Jenna

P.S. I can't believe cleavage, asscracks, and fans have made it here too

 

[Sona]

David, congratulations on your progress.
You're doing a terrific job.

You were the first person I talked to on this forum.
I can't tell you how much I appreciated it.

I wish you the best!

bye

Sona

 

[DCarr10760]

Thanks Sona,

Stick around I'd love to see some of your paintings!

David

 

[DCarr10760]

G'morning all!

A beautiful, cool morning! There was a chill in the air at 5:00 in the am. Autumn is my verrrry favorite season so mornings with that Autumnal feeling brighten my spirits considerably. Not that my spirits need brightening so much. I stepped on my scale upon rising and I was well below 250! The number was, in fact, so much below that I must assume its aberrant.

I won't change my ticker until Monday morning, whatever the number is then the number is.

This weekend we are celebrating Davy's second birthday, he isn't 2 until the 15th, but this weekend we were able to gather the family together. We actually couldn't gather them all on the same day, so we are having two parties, one today, another tomorrow. Of course with two ice-cream cakes. Can't really just have one big one, the second party's festivity level might be somewhat diminished with everybody singing "Happy Birthday" in front of a half eaten cake...

So I love ice cream cakes... I'll have to do some cipherin' to figure out how much I can have without going over the total. I hope it doesn't dampen the frivolity too much when I whip out the beam scale to measure my portion!

Have a great day everybody!

David C

 

[Blancita]

That is interesting about your past weight re-gains. It seems like a common phenomena in the WL world and definitely something to watch out for. A sustainable plan has to be worked out and continued forever. I've always struggled to maintain my weight, usually by eating a lot on the weekends and then making up for it with more reasonable eating mon-wed. Weighing every single day also helps. Denial is a big part of the re-gain I think. And of course continuing to exercise at least 10 months out of the year. I've slacked off here and there but its important to pick it up again after a break (if one must be taken out of boredom, stress or lack of time). Anyway, sounds like you've got it all covered. Congrats on your success so far, and enjoy the parties (and yummy ice cream cake).

 

[Sona]

You know what,
that Irish oatmeal thingy with the blueberries does sound good.

No fair you all are getting rain, we're having a terrible drought in GA.
Amen to wanting cooler weather!
I melted my flip flops on the parking lot at Walmart the other day.

I really liked that post from the last page too!
You know the one Paul quoted at the top of the page.
You make some very valid points.

Thanks for everything David
take care

Sona

 

[DCarr10760]

Blancita

Thanks for stopping by! It is interesting that you bring up denial. That is exactly what has happened in the past with me that accelerated the weight gain after nearing my goal when dieting. I refused to admit to myself that I was losing control. I'm not sure how to avoid that beyond being mindful of it though...I'll have to think more about it. Hopefully my future involvement with this denial will be hypothetical. Thanks again for the post and vote of confidence.

Soma

Is your new avatar your own work? A self portrait? I went to school originally for theater arts (scenic design) but switched to studio art along the way. Eventually I wound up in technical illustration and finally engineering. Kind of a long and winding road...

If you go first, I'll dig up some of my paintings! Thanks for stopping by!

To all

I had a nice time at my Son's b'day party. I did have some Ice Cream Cake, which brought my daily calorie total to just under 2500 calories, which is the (very) high end of my allowable range. So not too bad!

Tomorrow we get to do it again with my two older boys and Davy's Grandparents.

David C

 

[DCarr10760]

We'll be glad to help you stay accountable and on track once you hit the low of 245 ... boy will you be there soon... guys weight just melts off... it amazes me ~Jenna

Jenna

I missed this post somehow the other day!

It really isn't very fair, my wife has had the hardest time losing the last 10 - 15 lbs of Baby weight gain. Each time I say "Honey, look! I just lost two more pounds!!" she scowls.

Thanks for the rep and your very nice comments, I appreciate them.

David C

 

[Griff1]

...I stepped on my scale upon rising and I was well below 250! The number was, in fact, so much below that I must assume its aberrant.

If you are going to use college words in your posts you need to have a link to an online thesaurus I'm assuming aberrant means bullshit.

I won't change my ticker until Monday morning, whatever the number is then the number is.

I move my ticker whenever I see a new low on the scale. Weight fluctuates too much day to day and if I had one official ticker weigh in day that would be the day when I "weighed heavy" - that's just what I do...

Congrats on your progress. I see that you got to spend some time with one of your older sons, I'm sure that was nice. Now stop talking about how quickly they grow up, I'm trying to keep mine little. I ask them all the time if they would just stop growing up even for a week or two.

Keep up the good work.

Griff

 

[Boam46]

Jenna

I missed this post somehow the other day!

It really isn't very fair, my wife has had the hardest time losing the last 10 - 15 lbs of Baby weight gain. Each time I say "Honey, look! I just lost two more pounds!!" she scowls.

Thanks for the rep and your very nice comments, I appreciate them.

David C

You're very welcome

I can feel for your wife. My boyfriend isn't even trying and he's lost over 20 pounds since June. I just scowl at him constantly

Sounds like you had a good time at the party... you got to have cake and stayed in your caloric range. WTG! Davy is lucky soo much loving family that he gets two parties

Have a good night
~Jenna
I hope you enjoy tomorrow's too

 

[DCarr10760]

Hi Griff,

Glad you stopped in!

If you are going to use college words in your posts you need to have a link to an online thesaurus I'm assuming aberrant means bullshit.

Sorry! Engineerspeak

I move my ticker whenever I see a new low on the scale. Weight fluctuates too much day to day and if I had one official ticker weigh in day that would be the day when I "weighed heavy" - that's just what I do...

That's a sensible method. I might adopt it! I tend to be pretty rigid in my "rules," which is really not good, because when I inevitably break them, I get really down on myself. I need to work on being more flexible.

I see that you got to spend some time with one of your older sons, I'm sure that was nice. Now stop talking about how quickly they grow up, I'm trying to keep mine little. I ask them all the time if they would just stop growing up even for a week or two.

I had a great time with my oldest Son. They do grow up fast. I'm 5' - 11" and Both older boys are 6' - 2" or more! It didn't bother me until I went to hug the younger one awhile back. Normally I always gave them bear hugs, wrapping my arms around their shoulders. But this time he wrapped his arms around mine! I said No way, I'm your Dad, you hug down, I hug up!! He said with a smile, "I don't think so, little man!" (my nickname for him since birth).

I don't mind them growing up, really. Every age is a joy (and a pain).

David C.

 

[Blancita]

Blancita

Thanks for stopping by! It is interesting that you bring up denial. That is exactly what has happened in the past with me that accelerated the weight gain after nearing my goal when dieting. I refused to admit to myself that I was losing control. I'm not sure how to avoid that beyond being mindful of it though...I'll have to think more about it. Hopefully my future involvement with this denial will be hypothetical. Thanks again for the post and vote of confidence.

Hey there ! I was just posting about this elsewhere, but for me, the key to my struggling to maintain a decent weight most of my life was through daily weighing. You just can't deny that number on the scale and yes, it IS upsetting and discouraging to see the scale going up. But we NEED to see it so we can't deny what's happening and we SHOULD be getting upset about it.

Only difference is what we do with being upset with ourselves. Do we get more depressed or do we wake up and do something about it to stop the gaining. For me personally the key to all that has been the continued daily weighing (20+ years now ). Hey some people are just put on this earth to constantly have to be vigilant about their weight lest they blow up..and I'm one of those people .

 

[Gina in NY]

What I've learned - not much!

That's a sensible method. I might adopt it! I tend to be pretty rigid in my "rules," which is really not good, because when I inevitably break them, I get really down on myself. I need to work on being more flexible.

I just wanted to respond to this one thing - I read an article on how people who are overweight are different from people who never struggle. Two concepts jumped out at me. The first one was that non-strugglers don't see hunger as an emergency. What a concept? I always thought that a few minutes after hunger came fainting and death! Now that what I can eat is so limited, I'll feel hungry, think - hey, I should eat, but if I can't find the right thing - I'll wait. VERY new idea. The second one is that non-strugglers are flexible. If they eat dessert one day, fine, but they won't have two and won't have it every day. They just eat things in moderation. I think those of us that have struggled through countless diets have the all or nothing mentality. Food is good or bad. Well that isn't right! So now, I can allow myself a bite of something sinful and feel satisfied. Or once in a great while, I'll eat a whole something that I'd have called "bad" before. But as long as I don't do it often - and I mean once a month - it isn't going to affect my weight and will keep me from getting weird and twitchy.

Just an idea. You know, we have to balance the rigid, work out every day, eat perfectly "rule"- which is a goal - with the reality of - Wedding to go to today! You know what I mean. I'm not trying to lead you into temptation, just pointing out that there is no need to get down on yourself for one day of something less than perfect. That is what people who don't struggle do and it seems to work for them.

Am I making sense? I haven't had any coffee...