Spiral Argument
First off, let's get this out of the way: Wednesday Weigh In was a bust. It's That Time of the Month so all my care and restraint yesterday (only 1 square of chocolate!) resulted in 179 if I sort of squint and lean. Otherwise 180. This would make a very dull graph. I admit I'm bummed. I was hoping to float down gracefully like a leaf to a new, sustainable weight, somewhere below the 170 range. I've been lifting my weights and shaking my booty and hiking virtuously on the trail. In my longtime mental scrip, if I made the changes I've made, I'd be at a healthy weight. But my calories are probably in the 1700-2000 range, and it's becoming clear that's a maintenance range for me. So now it remains to be seen what I'm going to do about it.
I am chary of setting goals and failing, as I have this half-baked but sincerely held idea that failure can turn into a habit. I hope to promise less and perform more. To look nice I need to lose 20-30 pounds, but if I lose 8 more, that's my ten percent, which is supposed to be associated with worthwhile improvements in blood sugar and blood pressure. I know I could just buckle down and cut calories more sharply, but I have a (possibly unreasonable) terror of yo-yo-ing. Right now I'm not in a fight with my body and I like it that way.
Well, y'all just leave me wrestling with myself. I'll figure it out.
I want to give a cheer to The Road Curves Ahead for her foray into Zumba! And I just found a couple of wonderful blogs, both bloggers in maintenance-- The Tippy Toe Diet (boy can I relate to that title!) and A Shade of Gray" (that too, come to think of it.)
Also, here's a picture of my Mums and Corn. All three males of the house (father, husband, son) sailed by them without noticing. Both daughters were thrilled. "Mom, they look great!"
I am chary of setting goals and failing, as I have this half-baked but sincerely held idea that failure can turn into a habit. I hope to promise less and perform more. To look nice I need to lose 20-30 pounds, but if I lose 8 more, that's my ten percent, which is supposed to be associated with worthwhile improvements in blood sugar and blood pressure. I know I could just buckle down and cut calories more sharply, but I have a (possibly unreasonable) terror of yo-yo-ing. Right now I'm not in a fight with my body and I like it that way.
Well, y'all just leave me wrestling with myself. I'll figure it out.
I want to give a cheer to The Road Curves Ahead for her foray into Zumba! And I just found a couple of wonderful blogs, both bloggers in maintenance-- The Tippy Toe Diet (boy can I relate to that title!) and A Shade of Gray" (that too, come to think of it.)
Also, here's a picture of my Mums and Corn. All three males of the house (father, husband, son) sailed by them without noticing. Both daughters were thrilled. "Mom, they look great!"
Lifting weights always seems to affect my results on the scale, no matter what I eat. That's why I shifted to 100% cardio while I was focused so tightly on scale numbers. Once I got down to within my goal range, I brought weights back into the picture. Maybe that kind of approach would help you shake the current plateau you seem to be on...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention! I appreciate your comments so much!
ReplyDeleteI had an opposite experience from Jack's, in that my sizes started dropping like crazy when I started working with weights. I'm noticing now, though, that it's more difficult to get rid of a pound than it was earlier in the process. Thus, I'm adding back in more cardio. :(
You'll figure out what works best for you and then the graceful floating part will begin. (Love that!)
Thanks for the link. :-)
ReplyDeleteI always feel like the weigh-in at my time of the month doesn't count.
There is another factor that could be playing into this - a plateau. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes those things can last months. You are doing the right thing though by analyzing where you are, what you are doing, and what it may take to proceed.
ReplyDeleteAhh, thanks for the shout out!
ReplyDeleteWeigh-ins during TOM stink ... it sounds like you are in-tune with you body though and that's definitely a good thing. Looking forward to reading what your next steps will be (or not be ;-)
Hmmm, I'm probably in maintenance range with my calories too, now that you mention it. I do seem to go down, but very, very slowly.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the book recommendations! I have made a note of them for the future!
If you're hanging in there during TOM then you're doing great! I wouldn't take any single number too seriously if you're doing all the right things.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're in it for the long haul which is way more important than a single weigh in.