Realistic Expectations
by
, 01-30-2017 at 01:07 PM (5240 Views)
I've been stalled for a good long while now. Not too sure how long, since I discovered the scale I'd been using was broken. It never gave the same reading each time, so I would weigh myself multiple times and go with an average. Imagine my disappointment when I got a new scale that said I weighed about 10 lbs. more than I thought, and then had it confirmed last week when I went to the doctor for an unrelated issue.
I realize my slow and stalled loss is very much my own fault. I knew intellectually that this procedure is just a tool, and that I needed to take charge of my diet and make positive, permanent changes. I realize now though, I had it in my head that because my portions were so limited, I thought I'd just keep losing weight regardless. I mean come on! I can't eat like a pig anymore right?
Cue reality check for Heather. My stomach may be smaller, but if I'm eating more than 3 times a day, I'm not going to make any progress. What? No exercise? Guess what, sister?! That's not going to help, either. Oh and that coffee addiction of yours? Quit fooling yourself that it's okay because you're using sugar-free creamer. So, now I have to make the changes I should have made 3 months ago. I take solace in the fact that' I'm roughly 40 lbs lighter than I was last May and my weight is not creeping up, but I didn't go through all this not to reach my goal weight.
In the interest of getting back into exercising on a regular basis, at the suggestion of a friend, today I'm going to start walking to my son's elementary school to pick him up. It's not far, only 1.5 miles round trip. I think it's a good start, and then hopefully as I go along and the weather begins to improve, we'll start walking to school in the morning, too. I do have a membership at our local YMCA, so I have that option as well. I'm thinking about some of the aqua aerobic classes. I have the whole body image issue going on... seriously, I'd work out in a hat and sunglasses if I didn't think it would make me stand out even more. Maybe in aqua aerobics I might not feel so bad since most of the participants are people older than me. Maybe.
Now onto the big issue. Convenience food. I can live without what most people think of when they think 'fast food'. When I think fast food, it's things that don't take a lot of time to prepare. Cup O' Noodles is my biggest enemy right now. I have told myself that it's the perfect portion size, I'm definitely not over-eating, it's not that bad, blah blah blah. Reality check again... it's 290 calories and almost all of them carbs. Oh yeah! It IS all carbs... you're right. Better eat a protein bar between each meal to make sure I get all my protein in! Protein bars? Another food demon for me. What could be greater than food I just have to unwrap and stick in my mouth?? You're beginning to see where I'm coming from, right?
I told myself that this week I'd go back to the liquid diet for awhile. Not the clear liquids (although that's probably a really good idea), but the protein drinks, creamy soups, etc. Me at 4am today: What? Did you say soup? Cup O' Noodles is soup! 10 minutes after eating... I realize omg I did it again.
Instead of noodle rehab, I'm going to reach for the few protein drinks I have on hand and some broth for the rest of the day. My husband just bought me a new box of protein bars. Maybeeee I'll allow myself one for dinner or something. Oh wait. I forgot. I've already had two. Clearly, I do not have my head where it should be today. But the day's not over yet, and it's not too late to begin, right?
So, what's the point of this pages long rant? I need help. I need suggestions from people who have battled similar demons and conquered them. I need to commiserate with other people fighting the same fight. Most of all, I need to get my fluffy butt back on track and goal oriented once again.