I had been hurling through life at lightening speed the last few weeks, that I just needed a break from all obligations which included this blog. Plus really, what could I say? I was enjoying the holidays which included partaking in the holiday goodies.
I'm still in shock a bit at how much I can gain and how quickly, but knowing more about it helps with not getting upset about it. When I buckle down when the kids go back to school, I'll have a big whoosh and will find in the end that most of this gain was water and I'll be left with losing 2-4 pounds of fat. Anyone can lose 2-4 pounds. After losing 80 in the past year, I'm not sweating small gains as that is life. I will not remain a steady 165 all the time, every day, every month. That is not how life works. So, come every late December and early January I will gain and every mid January to February I will work on losing what's been gained. Simple as that. I cannot beat myself up for living life. I just can't ignore things either like I used to do.
What else? Well, I am formulating a new challenge for the next year and have already mentioned it a bit, but on December 31st I will put it out there for real. I will also have an exercise goal too as its not all about how I look, but how healthy I am too.
Beginning weight: 255.6. Now: 183.2
Total miles walked in 2011:1005/1000. Yep I made it!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Learned more about these water weight gains with eating carbs
And it makes so much sense. For me, not understanding my body was the most frustrating thing about the water weight gain. I can predict it happening, but wanted to know why it happened. So I asked on the weight loss forum and voila, in seconds I had an answer. I love the internet! My searching didn't lead to anything useful as all I found was that eating high carb does not make you fat...eating too many calories makes you fat - well, duh!
So, I got pointed to this blog post. It explains it perfectly. http://www.justinowings.com/understanding-bodyweight-and-glycogen-de/ (can't see the link on my iPad, so I'm double posting it, one with HTML and one without so people can copy and paste if they are having the same problem with seeing the link.)
Now that I understand why I gain so much when I eat sugary things (haven't eaten high carb non sugar things in a year), I'm ok with it. I am replenishing my glycogen stores. Who knows, it might even be good for me to do that once in awhile.
The reason why I asked about it is that yesterday I baked and sampled the goods and again this morning I was up 1.6 pounds, which I knew I would be. Doing more baking today, so it will probably go up again, but now that I understand why it is happening, I'm more at peace with it. When I resume my normal eating and activities, I'll see a big whoosh and will deal with the little bit of actual fat I gained after the holidays are over. I didn't have a sugar binge, but it was more than I'm accustomed to and my body just latches onto it. Our bodies are amazing things!
So... About time to bake 60 gingerbread figures for my 1st graders class.
Stats for 12/22/11:
Beginning weight: 255.6. Now: 176.6
So, I got pointed to this blog post. It explains it perfectly. http://www.justinowings.com/understanding-bodyweight-and-glycogen-de/ (can't see the link on my iPad, so I'm double posting it, one with HTML and one without so people can copy and paste if they are having the same problem with seeing the link.)
Now that I understand why I gain so much when I eat sugary things (haven't eaten high carb non sugar things in a year), I'm ok with it. I am replenishing my glycogen stores. Who knows, it might even be good for me to do that once in awhile.
The reason why I asked about it is that yesterday I baked and sampled the goods and again this morning I was up 1.6 pounds, which I knew I would be. Doing more baking today, so it will probably go up again, but now that I understand why it is happening, I'm more at peace with it. When I resume my normal eating and activities, I'll see a big whoosh and will deal with the little bit of actual fat I gained after the holidays are over. I didn't have a sugar binge, but it was more than I'm accustomed to and my body just latches onto it. Our bodies are amazing things!
So... About time to bake 60 gingerbread figures for my 1st graders class.
Stats for 12/22/11:
Beginning weight: 255.6. Now: 176.6
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Avoided sugar yesterday and now I feel so much better!
I actually ate more yesteday than I normally do as I was getting the nonstop Munchies. I just tried really hard to not give into the simple carbs for food and I ate protein heavy foods yesteday and came in around 1800 calories. Today I feel much more in control over my eating and I don't feel the craving demons nagging at me every second. Took 1.5 days of being very vigilant to get back to normal. And that feels a lot, lot better.
Of course, I need to do more baking today, but it's about over with the baking frenzy. I'll get through it and then phew... Nothing much again for another year! Scale keeps dropping pounds too.
Today I went to the local consignment shop and it's nice to be a normal size as more things can fit me. I bought an ugly christmas sweater and it lights up. It's a size medium and it's even a bit baggy. I was wearing a 2x a year ago. What a huge transformation.
Not much else today. Really wrapping it up for the holidays. I have a lot to do in the next few days, but I love it, so I'm not complaining... Well, maybe a little. Some colder weather would be nice. It's 60 degrees today. When are the two big boys going to get to go skiing?
Stats for 12/21/11:
Beginning weight: 255.6. Now: 175.0
Of course, I need to do more baking today, but it's about over with the baking frenzy. I'll get through it and then phew... Nothing much again for another year! Scale keeps dropping pounds too.
Today I went to the local consignment shop and it's nice to be a normal size as more things can fit me. I bought an ugly christmas sweater and it lights up. It's a size medium and it's even a bit baggy. I was wearing a 2x a year ago. What a huge transformation.
Not much else today. Really wrapping it up for the holidays. I have a lot to do in the next few days, but I love it, so I'm not complaining... Well, maybe a little. Some colder weather would be nice. It's 60 degrees today. When are the two big boys going to get to go skiing?
Stats for 12/21/11:
Beginning weight: 255.6. Now: 175.0
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
So, back to the plan! Effects of sugar.
I didn't like how my body we reacting to a more loose eating habit. I could feel the call of the sugar and I was feeling more sluggish and my face was breaking out. The scale was letting me know that it as a system wide dislike for what I was eating too. Have I always been this way? And I just never realized the effect sugar or wheat had on me? Or have I just developed a hypersensitivity to it? Whatever the case, it's making it easier for me to never eat like that again. I feel like crap, sleep like crap, look like crap and so on. Of course, now today I'll have to fight through the sugar cravings as my body gets off the sugar high, but I can battle through it. I need to!
I stopped midday with anything sweet or with wheat and today I'm already down two pounds of water weight. I can see my feet are puffy... It's bizarre! But it's also fascinating at how my body reacts to these foods. For long term, I think it will make it easier for me to stick to a healthier eating plan. I just need to steer clear of simple carbs!
Today I'm going to the grocery store and I'm going to stock up on greens - dark leafies for cooking and for salads and then I'm going to gorge on those. I feel I'm missing them something fierce.
My husband is feeling it too. He had a bunch of sweets two days ago (same day as me) and that night he couldnt sleep. He felt anxious, nervous and came to bed at 4:30 am and didn't fall asleep until 5 am. There was no explanation for it, and the only thing different was he had a bunch of sweets that day and especially in the evening. Yesterday he avoided them and he felt much better.
Conclusion? Simple sugars are bad for you. They may taste great at first, but their side effects are evil. So, no more goodies for me and limited goodies for my husband. I'll just make a couple more things, but that's it. Things we always have and the kids love and would feel its not christmas if we didn't have it. But me? I'm steering clear of it!
Beginning weight: 255.6. Now: 176.8
I stopped midday with anything sweet or with wheat and today I'm already down two pounds of water weight. I can see my feet are puffy... It's bizarre! But it's also fascinating at how my body reacts to these foods. For long term, I think it will make it easier for me to stick to a healthier eating plan. I just need to steer clear of simple carbs!
Today I'm going to the grocery store and I'm going to stock up on greens - dark leafies for cooking and for salads and then I'm going to gorge on those. I feel I'm missing them something fierce.
My husband is feeling it too. He had a bunch of sweets two days ago (same day as me) and that night he couldnt sleep. He felt anxious, nervous and came to bed at 4:30 am and didn't fall asleep until 5 am. There was no explanation for it, and the only thing different was he had a bunch of sweets that day and especially in the evening. Yesterday he avoided them and he felt much better.
Conclusion? Simple sugars are bad for you. They may taste great at first, but their side effects are evil. So, no more goodies for me and limited goodies for my husband. I'll just make a couple more things, but that's it. Things we always have and the kids love and would feel its not christmas if we didn't have it. But me? I'm steering clear of it!
Beginning weight: 255.6. Now: 176.8
Monday, December 19, 2011
A victory at the phlebotomist!
I have delayed it as long as I can, I had to go back to the vampire's office today for a blood draw because I have a doctor appointment to review this blood work in the next day or two. I was trying not to think about it that much as the last visit was like all the others save one. 4 tries to find a vein and 2 vampires and it hurts when they don't find it and they dig.
I first had to wait in the waiting room for an hour. Then I realized the vampire who has been successful at finding my vein the last two times wasn't there. Great! So, I told the phlebotomist that I was a tough draw and showed her my good arm and just hoped for the best. She found it on the first try. And when I looked, there was my vein... Popping up. She said, "I don't know why they have a problem. Your vein is right there!". Oh how she has no idea! So maybe losing weight and getting fit is making blood draws easier after all, I've now had two successful blood draws!
The scale is sky high this morning. Who gains 7 pounds in three days? Me apparently! Carbs make me hold water like crazy. And today, I had zits on my face. My face has been mostly clear for months and months. Now I'm wondering if it's the sugar or the wheat that does it to me as usually I have neither or very little of either. And the other night I had restless legs for the first time in ages and ages.... All of this is to just confirm - Sugar (and digested wheat is also sugar) is bad, bad, bad.
Beginning weight: 255.6. Now: 178.8!!!
I first had to wait in the waiting room for an hour. Then I realized the vampire who has been successful at finding my vein the last two times wasn't there. Great! So, I told the phlebotomist that I was a tough draw and showed her my good arm and just hoped for the best. She found it on the first try. And when I looked, there was my vein... Popping up. She said, "I don't know why they have a problem. Your vein is right there!". Oh how she has no idea! So maybe losing weight and getting fit is making blood draws easier after all, I've now had two successful blood draws!
The scale is sky high this morning. Who gains 7 pounds in three days? Me apparently! Carbs make me hold water like crazy. And today, I had zits on my face. My face has been mostly clear for months and months. Now I'm wondering if it's the sugar or the wheat that does it to me as usually I have neither or very little of either. And the other night I had restless legs for the first time in ages and ages.... All of this is to just confirm - Sugar (and digested wheat is also sugar) is bad, bad, bad.
Beginning weight: 255.6. Now: 178.8!!!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Another day escaped me! Tis the season!
That I've missed as few days as I have is incredible. And these past few weeks I have been incredibly busy and will remain so until the kids are home for winter break - which will be the shortest on record - one week. That is it. In a way it's good as my oldest son is a slug, but it's bad too as they would like to go skiing and when? Doesn't help the weather has been so mild. There's no snow yet and too warm to even make snow in the nearby mountains. Of course it is the year they bought a season pass.
But back to be being busy. Yesteday we hosted my husband's office party and had a total of 49 people in the house. It was a ton of fun and kind of amazing that we were able to get the house ready in one not so rushed afternoon. We even had time to shower and put up a few more decorations. It was potluck, so no major food stuff, but enough to get set up so it was comfortable and safe for everyone - things like dusting off the kids toys in the basement. Moving chairs around and even moving the Christmas tree in a more out of the way place. Chillin drinks, and so on.
The day before was spent, remember, baking like a mad woman. First my mother in law made a dessert and since she never works in the kitchen, she asked me to be nearby if she needed to find something. Then I volunteered at the school for an hour like I always do. Then it was show time in the kitchen. All that biscotti, chocolate chip cookies and 4 large German Christmas stollen. I got all the baking done, but still needed to clean up the kitchen. That was priority number one on Saturday morning. As you can imagine what my kitchen looked like with all day of cooking - a nice cooked meal thrown in there too.
But something else about these last couple days. I have slept like crap and I don't know why. Was it late night caffeine? Was it excitement? Was it too many carbs? I don't know.
I have eaten way, way, way more than I have in eons. And several days in a row. The whole point of making this month a maintaining month. There are just too many goodies I really want and denying myself them will just make me feel like I'm missing out on something. I also know that I'll be right back to eating right as soon as the big holiday events are over. I can feel that I'm in control, just choosing to eat differently. There is a big, big difference.
Tomorrow will be a more normal day. I have some things to do and part of that will include planting the rest of the bulbs. Who would have guessed that I would get another shot at that. The weather is supposed to be mild, so I'll put it to good use. Might get a haircut too and errands, as always.
One week until Christmas.... And I have no idea what I weigh today. I ate and drank before weighing myself as I was up in the middle of the night. Tomorrow might be a big eye opening shock!
Beginning wight: 255.6. Now: ???.?
Total miles walked in 2011: 987/1000
But back to be being busy. Yesteday we hosted my husband's office party and had a total of 49 people in the house. It was a ton of fun and kind of amazing that we were able to get the house ready in one not so rushed afternoon. We even had time to shower and put up a few more decorations. It was potluck, so no major food stuff, but enough to get set up so it was comfortable and safe for everyone - things like dusting off the kids toys in the basement. Moving chairs around and even moving the Christmas tree in a more out of the way place. Chillin drinks, and so on.
The day before was spent, remember, baking like a mad woman. First my mother in law made a dessert and since she never works in the kitchen, she asked me to be nearby if she needed to find something. Then I volunteered at the school for an hour like I always do. Then it was show time in the kitchen. All that biscotti, chocolate chip cookies and 4 large German Christmas stollen. I got all the baking done, but still needed to clean up the kitchen. That was priority number one on Saturday morning. As you can imagine what my kitchen looked like with all day of cooking - a nice cooked meal thrown in there too.
But something else about these last couple days. I have slept like crap and I don't know why. Was it late night caffeine? Was it excitement? Was it too many carbs? I don't know.
I have eaten way, way, way more than I have in eons. And several days in a row. The whole point of making this month a maintaining month. There are just too many goodies I really want and denying myself them will just make me feel like I'm missing out on something. I also know that I'll be right back to eating right as soon as the big holiday events are over. I can feel that I'm in control, just choosing to eat differently. There is a big, big difference.
Tomorrow will be a more normal day. I have some things to do and part of that will include planting the rest of the bulbs. Who would have guessed that I would get another shot at that. The weather is supposed to be mild, so I'll put it to good use. Might get a haircut too and errands, as always.
One week until Christmas.... And I have no idea what I weigh today. I ate and drank before weighing myself as I was up in the middle of the night. Tomorrow might be a big eye opening shock!
Beginning wight: 255.6. Now: ???.?
Total miles walked in 2011: 987/1000
Friday, December 16, 2011
Sorry for skipping a day! Busy! And a possible new goal!
I've been super busy. We have a party tomorrow (Saturday) and I've been a mad woman getting things in order. The house was already in order, but I made a gingerbread house covers for the playhouse and today I lived in the kitchen - 12 hours to get dinner, stollen, chocolate chip cookies and biscotti made. Not even for tomorrow, but for Sunday. I won't have time to do all that stuff tomorrow as tomorrow it will be readying the house for 45-50 guests - moving furniture around, filling ice chests, etc. That I'm in bed and feel I'm in a good spot at 10:30 pm tonight is a good sign.
Today was also a planned high calorie day - one of the days I knew I would go over during the holidays. I was baking, so I sampled some biscotti batter (yum) and plenty of chocolate chip cookie dough. Batters are my weakness, so the actual sweets wont be much of a temptation for me. It's better that way too as treats last for days and days. Baking of them lasts for only an hour or two and with yeast doughs, even sweet doughs, you can't sample the dough, so breads arer a very small temptation for me.
Something else I'm thinking about too. I was looking at myself in the mirror today in my bra and panties and I think just maybe I might see how I look in a bikini this summer. I'm giving myself 6 months to tone up and drop the few extra pounds and see if there is anything out there that is somewhat flattering. I will have stretch marks which extend above my belly button (second childbirth gave me those high ones. Huge baby - more stretch marks). But really, should stretch marks keep me from a bikini? If for one year in my 40s and at that mental block age of 42 be the year to stare at death and say - "Not yet. I'm fit and healthy and strong. And I can rock a bikini at about the same age my estranged father was facing his death."
We'll see. But it's a good goal to work towards and having a goal helps me! But now... Sleep. I need it!
Beginning weight: 255.6 Now: 171.6
Miles walked in 2011:977/1000
Today was also a planned high calorie day - one of the days I knew I would go over during the holidays. I was baking, so I sampled some biscotti batter (yum) and plenty of chocolate chip cookie dough. Batters are my weakness, so the actual sweets wont be much of a temptation for me. It's better that way too as treats last for days and days. Baking of them lasts for only an hour or two and with yeast doughs, even sweet doughs, you can't sample the dough, so breads arer a very small temptation for me.
Something else I'm thinking about too. I was looking at myself in the mirror today in my bra and panties and I think just maybe I might see how I look in a bikini this summer. I'm giving myself 6 months to tone up and drop the few extra pounds and see if there is anything out there that is somewhat flattering. I will have stretch marks which extend above my belly button (second childbirth gave me those high ones. Huge baby - more stretch marks). But really, should stretch marks keep me from a bikini? If for one year in my 40s and at that mental block age of 42 be the year to stare at death and say - "Not yet. I'm fit and healthy and strong. And I can rock a bikini at about the same age my estranged father was facing his death."
We'll see. But it's a good goal to work towards and having a goal helps me! But now... Sleep. I need it!
Beginning weight: 255.6 Now: 171.6
Miles walked in 2011:977/1000
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