Wednesday, January 29, 2020

The temptation to give up

I waltzed into January with high hopes and dreams.   January was going to jumpstart my stalled weight loss efforts.  January was going to be my month.  I was going to be on fire!  This weight was going to drop off.  This weight loss journey was going to be going full speed ahead!   But that is not what happened.  Instead I have struggled on the scales.  I have cleaned up my eating by quite a bit....but the weight is not dropping.  My body is clinging to this weight...and honestly, I am thoroughly disgusted and so tempted to give up!

I have kept my food intake within the confines of my caloric goal....which is between 1200 and 1550 calories a day.   High end or low end of that goal is still a range that I SHOULD be losing!   Seriously, I am tracking every bite religiously!   There have been one or two random days where my calories were a night higher ...as in 1700/1800 calories.  But those were also days that includes long hikes and extended periods of activity/exercise.   There is no reason!

So in answer to the questions that pop into the mind....

1.  I already imit my complex carb intake.
2.   I do indulge in a sweet treat on the weekend...but track it and account for it....and try to make sure it is on a day where we have hiked or biked and been really active. 
3.  I am moving and try to be active most days of the week...most week days I strive for at least 20 minutes of activity...the weekends are usually quite a bit longer.
4.   This was never this hard before.

So that left me with a few thoughts.  The first thought was going really strict with my food intake.   I know from past experience that I lose better when I am only eating around 1200 calories.  So Should I be heading back to strictly 1200 calories? It makes it tight in my food budget and does not give me much wiggle room for a higher calorie meal. But...oh well.


The next thought was that I have been doing overnight oatmeal every morning recently and I’m debating dropping that....too much carbs?    I recently took the time to look at some of my nutrients...here is a brief look.  

So I can see that I am slightly over the goal on carbs and fat...but it’s not a huge overage!  

And then last week I had another thought...and that was to totally switch up everything in my plan.   Total change!  So I came up with the idea to go back on weight watchers.   It worked before.  I haven’t done it in years so it would be fresh and new.  Could it work?

So late last week I bite the bullet.  I joined online weight watchers.   Attending a meeting would be difficult/a hardship with my current schedule and life commitments.  But if I need to go to a meeting, I can always add that back in.  Jason told me that we can make it happen if we need to.   But right now I’m doing online.   I took the little quiz and I am going to be following the green plan.  I am actually excited to do this.  I’m excited to sit back and follow their plan and trust...and lose weight!  (Surely this will work...right??). 

 In the first few days of being back on WW, I noticed a difference in my attitude and behavior....I don’t want to go over my daily points!  With calories I was always thinking ‘1275 is close to 1200’ and calling it a day!  But there isn’t that wiggle room with points.   This might be a good thing for me!



This weight loss journey is not for the faint at heart!  It takes constant evaluation and constant adjustments.   This is just one more adjustment.  Just as stepping away from WW years ago when I stopped working for me was an adjustment I needed to make.  (Maybe because I needed fresh and new back then and I wasn’t working the program).   To lose weight we need to learn, grow and adjust just as to be an affective person in life we need to learn, grow and adjust.  This is just a new chapter in this weight loss journey.




13 comments:

Shelley said...

I love that you are stepping away from what isn't working for you and trying something different. Just like food, dieting gets stale - you need something fresh!

SANRDJ said...

WW is great.. and I personally like the pts idea because it takes your mind off calories and like you said, 1275 calories is just the same as 1200... but it's not. It's that extra 1/2 cookie or 1/2 slice of bread etc. Pts are the pts are the pts. You get 20, you eat 20 and not a pt more. Good luck. Hopefully the new system will kickstart your body to dropping the lbs.

Amy said...

I found this article interesting https://breakingmuscle.com/healthy-eating/the-right-way-to-lose-fat-what-to-eat I was confused on how many calories to restrict and through googling I came across that. I had read that if you don't have a ton of fat to lose that too big a restriction actually slows your metabolism. Maybe that's what is happening. Since you have lost so much, and are active, you may need more calories. But do the research or talk to a dietician. I recently met with a dietician and she told me most women set unrealistic and unhealthy calorie restrictions and it leads to big rebound gains. All the same, I am cheering for you!

Mrs Swan said...

Curious to see how this works for you! I know there are 3 color plans to choose from but that is all I know with this variation.

I did it many years ago. We're talking 2003 here. LOL

Anonymous said...

Good for you I hope this change works.

MaryFran said...

It’s amazing how this fresh start has given me new purpose and drive!!

MaryFran said...

So far so good!!! I’m cautiously excited for tomorrow’s weigh in!!!

MaryFran said...

I will be checking out that article!!! Thanks for sharing!

MaryFran said...

I lost all my weight originally with we only 2006 through 2008.

Yes there are three plans...the green plan gives you some free foods but more points to eat through the day (calories essentially). The free foods are basically fruits and veggies (not the starchy veggies though...so no corn, peas or potatoes). The next plan is the blue plan...that gives you more free foods (pretty much all veggies and fruit and lean protein). But you get less points to eat each day. The purple plan gives you all the previous free foods but also whole grains...and it has the least amount of points for other foods.

I am doing the green plan. :-)

MaryFran said...

So far it’s looking good! Thanks!

jen said...


I lost all my weight on WW years ago too!! Good luck.

Anonymous said...

Carotsncake is literally the best~! You have really helped me along in my fitness journey of trying to get into single digit body fat! As a guy I splurge too much but I am trying and this community really helps. I am also grateful for https://bit.ly/2GBJnX0 for helping me get THE BEST jump start to my fitness journey! 215lbs down to 203, and can't wait to reach my goal of 185lbs! :) Keep up the great work!
-J-

Vickie said...

I realize you are now on WW, but wanted to know if you are still tracking on MyFitnesPal, so you have your macros?

When you posted this several weeks ago, I thought the macros looked really skewed.

I just realized (today) they are probably the macros that MyFitnessPal gave you.

I use MyFitnessPal to track too. But I have customized my macros so carbs are more balanced with protein and fat (and not so high).

If you are still tracking macros, I suggest you tweak your numbers. I think you can do this within WW, as long as you are tracking.

I would consider dropping 10 off carbs and adding it to protein. So you would be at 40% carbs, 30% protein, 30% fat and see if that is enough to allow you to drop pounds. If that does not do it, try going to 35% carbs and 35% protein and 30% fat. Or a similar combination.

I have to tell you, I have a similar body composition and I would gain weight at 50% carbs. A lot of people would.

So the fact that you are almost maintaining at those numbers, tells me that if you adjusted them, the weight might start to drop.

It is possible if you get the percentages set correctly, for you, you might be able to increase calories. I am not suggesting low carb. I am saying more balanced.