Often, what has happened if I haven't posted much in a given time is that things have kind of (or definitely) derailed. I am very pleased to say that is NOT the case this time around. To recap, when I posted a week ago tomorrow, I mentioned how strange are bodies can be when I dropped a couple pounds quite unexpectedly, and I also mentioned how I was OK with likely not meeting my goal of 292 by this past Sunday. Well, at the time it did seem very unlikely indeed!
But, for whatever reason, in the past week, I've been letting go of some major poundage. Today, I weighed in at 290 and change. I did, in fact, hit my goal of 292 on Sunday.
I don't really know the exact reason why. I mean, I have largely been doing the same things as I have ever done, especially in the past month or so. I think I made an important realization last week, though. At first it was the assumption that exercise was hindering my progress, because it was during my break period last week spending as much time at home with my injured partner that the weight started dropping off.
The more I thought about it, though, I came to understand that I was eating "regular" calories every single day (1600–1800), i.e. at a deficit. Typically on workout days, I'd allow myself a couple extra hundred, and sometimes quite honestly it ended up being more. And those were at least three days out of the week! As we all know, you can't out-exercise excessive eating, so...
It seems really obvious now, but it feels like a major light bulb switched on. I simply need to eat at normal cal levels no matter how much activity I have in a day. Argh, it makes so much sense now. So I am going to try that from now on and see if that continues to help. I am obviously VERY pleased with the recent progress I have made! Essentially, I have turned back the clock to last July, which was the last time I was consistently in the 280s. Almost there!
Looking back on my history, my next "turn back the clock" period will take me to April of last year, when I last saw the 270s as a regular thing. Yes, this creep has been going on for a long time now – since Thanksgiving 2015, to be precise.
I can't tell you how happy I am that I am managing to drag myself out of this quagmire. I have mentioned in the past how many times I have lost a significant amount of weight, only to gain it back within a few months, and then proceed to gain more. A terrible, vicious cycle indeed! I have now been at this consistently for three years, and while I have gained some of the weight I lost again, I am taking control of the situation and I'm getting myself back to where I need to be.
I am very, very proud of not giving up. It would have been so easy to do that.
My message today to anyone reading is that you must never, ever give up, even if it seems like an impossible task. I am living proof.
That was inspiring! And some good detective work figuring out what the problem was. Congrats on not giving up despite the inevitable ups and downs.
ReplyDeleteSeems profoundly unfair that exercise doesn't always help much in weight loss efforts. I could swear that violates a law of physics... the energy has to come from SOMEWHERE. But exercise is so important for health you still gotta do it. Kudos for not giving up on it even though it may be a little oversold as a weight loss component.
Thanks so much, Crabby! I was relieved to figure it out, too. At the very least I am doing my personal training sessions most weeks, which give me 3 solid days per week of exercise. Ideally, I'd like to start adding in another two days of walk/runs or whatever else, but we'll be playing tennis like crazy in no time, and going on hikes!
DeleteI am super proud of myself for not giving up. I refuse to!