Losing weight in spite of myself.

I began this blog in February 2011 as a way to help me not quit trying to lose weight, and to learn a few things. It's been an interesting and powerful experience. It certainly confirms what I've long suspected--that although I am a genuinely happy cheery person in the main, I am NOT a happy cheery dieter. I DETEST losing weight. I resent being overweight in the first place and I am a virtuoso in the art of self-sabotage. And YET--I'm doing it! I'm fighting and kicking and EATING all the way down, but the weight is finally going down. The plan I was following in February was a half-baked one largely based on wishful thinking. I gained a little weight and decided to get real. I knew I couldn't just join weightwatchers or count calories or do any one plan and expect to be successful. I decided if I was going to bother to make the effort to lose weight I was going to throw everything I could think of at the problem. And so I do. My real "Day One" for this blog is April 1, 2011. I joined weight watchers, I joined caloriecount.com (awesome website), I read the blog losingweighteveryday.blogspot.com religiously, I keep this blog faithfully, I joined the health programs sponsored by my insurance, I use the principles from overeater's anonymous, I use my church's 12 step program as well, I subscribe--and use--Healthy Cooking Magazine.



The result of all this? Painfully slow progress (About 20 lbs in 10 months). But it IS progress and like the little engine that could I keep on trying in my rebellious way. I have no intention of quitting. This is by far the longest sustained weight loss effort I've ever made in my life. Successful I think, because for the first in my life I've done this MY way--which I've discovered, involves a lot of pizza and restaraunt food. I'm convinced this is the only way to lose weight. For me it must be MY way. For you it MUST be YOUR way. Not weight watcher's way, not your doctor's way, but YOUR way. Any plan or idea I use is only a tool.

The latest plan to lose weight my way began on Oct 29, 2013. It really is my own crazy plan. As you'll see if you read that post. I've implemented the best ideas of all sorts of eating plans and thrown out the scale. A couple of months in and I'm definitely healthier. I'm actually enjoying myself. I won't weigh until April 1, 2014, so I'll see then if this works the way I hope it will.

There is no magic weight loss bullet. But there IS a great deal of magic in the discovery of what I can happily live with (very different from what weight watchers tells me I can happily live with) and still have the body and health I want.

Good luck to all of us on this journey. It's quite a trip!







Friday, March 25, 2011

frustrated

Feeling frustrated today--mostly because I feel fat and flabby and I don't know what to do about it.  On WW I was furious because following the plan perfectly was a HUGE change for me---waaaaaay less of everything. I'd do well for awhile, and then I'd start slipping, but only a little!!!  And I mean
A LITTLE!!!  I was very careful about unconscious eating--so I would write down that I had an extra 1/2 cup of milk (55 cal! oh no!).  As soon as I deviated even the slightest bit, weight loss would CEASE and I would just sit there maintaining my weight.  This did not seem to me to be a plateau--I hadn't been on the plan long enough for that! Just a full and complete stop.  WHY?? I was still giving 90 to 95% effort.  At that point I had a choice.  Keep up the effort, which to me still felt enourmous, and maintain my weight, or eat whatever I want and maintain my weight.

So today I sit frustrated. FAT and frustrated.  We're having a pot-luck at work. I don't WANT to skip it or be moderate about it. Moderate doesn't seem to work anyway. 

Whatever.  What DOES work at least on a health level is the idea of fruits, veggies and lots of water and exercise. Thank goodness it's the weekend.  I feel a rare urge to spring clean.  Maybe that will help me feel better.

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