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Author: Otta-no-better
Date: 11-03-04 07:36
Be forewarned, thinking about answering this actually kept me awake last night so I have lots to say.
You said this ...
******I read what you guys eat and what you are doing for exercise and wonder if this is what you are going to do for years, and years, and years!!
I figured that since I'm learning to maintain and I drink protein shakes :) I might be one you're targetting with your question.
I actually began an interest in healthy food long before I started weightloss. So I had changed my diet already. There's some stuff I avoid. I learned to do it over time. I don't have to have my little book with me all the time any more. I'm counting on this being the case with low fat, smaller portions etc.
As for exercise, I suppose it looks like we're all very dedicated when that's what we post but ... I only exercise about 30 minutes a day and not every day. And I was getting old and stiff! I couldn't sit on my haunches to do up a patients shoes! I only had to see my mother unable to pick up a one year old once to know I didn't want to be like that. And I'd like to keep my bone mass.
******Does anyone here know if they will ever go back to eating what they used to eat? I don't mean overeating what we used to eat, but going back to eating less of what we used to eat. The "average" person's diet which would include pizza, hamburgers etc on an occasional basis - occasionally meaning once a week or so.
To respond to this part I'm going to substitute for the term 'average person' the term "naturally".
If I act 'naturally', I eat 2600 calories a day, knit, watch TV and sit at the computer. I'm stiff and old feeling and weigh over 160 pounds. And I'd probably be gaining most of a pound a week.
The 'average' woman has a body fat percentage of 30%. Mine was closer to 40%, naturally. I did eat pizza or some other fast food once a week. In the last two weeks, I've had pizza, a sub, ate in a restaurant once and had dinner with friends once. That's more than I am comfortable with ... but I'm learning. But once a week? ... I don't think so. I can make healthier food at home.
*****Guess the question is - will this restrictive/very active lifestyle be something that will never end for you? Common sense tells me that it MUST be this way but I am just not there.
I think I covered the myth of 'very active lifestyle', at least from my point of view.
Restrictive? ... When I lost the first 30 lbs. I was eating 1200 calories and walking 3 miles a day. When my wieghtloss slowed down, I immediately thought 'I have to cut more calories'. After struggling with the notion of subsisting on 1000 or 1100 cals a day ... I caved. 'I don't want to starve for the rest of my life' and all I could see was that number going down as I aged. By the time I was in my mid fifties I'd be nibbling only lettuce once a week to stay slim-ish :)
I was like you 'not there yet'. I gained back 14 lbs. It took months before I got my head around and got it into my heart that balance is key. I can't survive on 1200 calories and I can't walk 4 miles a day. But I can balance out at about 1900 calories in and out. I can find a half hour most days of the week to exercise. I'm building muscle and that uses more calories. I still count calories but not near as anally as I used to. I often put them all in fitday later in the day. I'm often surprized that they come out at about the right amount even tho' I'm not watching every one.
Soon I hope to get to the point where I do these things naturally (a new natural for me). I'll sweat a few times a week, eat healthy and weigh myself once a week or so ... and if I need to adjust something, I will.
Constant vigilance ... isn't that an ugly term? But ya know what? I wash my face every day, I brush my teeth more than that, I'm constantly vigilant of my childrens safety.
My choices ... overweight, which would have been easy, but I didn't want it .... or ... lighter by eating less and less and less ... or ... lighter, fitter, with balance.
Joan, the very fact that this dilemma has occured to you is a wonderful sign to me. It shows a foreward thinking that a lot of 'dieters' don't have. They focus on the little dress for prom or being slimmer than their sister at Christmas. You are showing the most valuable tool there is in healthy body management and that is common sense. You said yourself that you have it. I can read it in your posts.
I used to tell my kids 'begin how you wish to continue'. You have your head most of the way around the notion of life long healthy body management and it's most of the way into your heart. I have no doubt that when it clicks for you ... you'll be off to the races.
You are not average, Joan. You know all these things. When the pieces all fall into place in your head and your heart, you'll be ready. Before you know it, you'll have that healthy body and you'll be managing it.
I look and feel good. Is it worth fussing over and thinking about and planning? You bet!
Susan lost 40 lbs in 17 months
At goal, under 124 lbs since Sept. 10/04
Eat your protein, muscle is key
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Author: joan
Date: 11-03-04 10:02
First, Susan, I want to thank you for your long response. I can tell that you have been in the same "place" that I am now and it means a lot to me that you shared that fact with me.
There is that magical feeling, I have had it in the past, where the mind takes over that urge to eat and I feel "in control" knowing that eating better foods and exercising is really the point in my life where I want to be. I want that feeling back. I'll be 50 years old in January and don't have that much time to "get it into gear".
You hit the nail on the head also when you said,
" When I lost the first 30 lbs. I was eating 1200 calories and walking 3 miles a day. When my wieghtloss slowed down, I immediately thought 'I have to cut more calories'. After struggling with the notion of subsisting on 1000 or 1100 cals a day ... I caved. 'I don't want to starve for the rest of my life' and all I could see was that number going down as I aged. By the time I was in my mid fifties I'd be nibbling only lettuce once a week to stay slim-ish :)
That's where I was when I stopped losing and starting gaining weight. At 215 with such a long way to go the future looked impossible. If I was struggling with 1200 calories a day what in the h*** would I be able to eat if I ever reached my goal of 155. I gave up and gained back 13 pounds.
Thanks so much for the advice. You sound very grounded in reality and have settled into a plan of eating and exercising that seems to be what I need to do. It sounds like a sensible way to approach life - for the rest of your life.
Thanks again Susan. I have newfound optimism about my weight loss. It is not "all or nothing" but a balance - balance is the key!!! Watching what I eat when I am home where I can prepare my meals, and using common sense when life involves eating out and enjoying family and freinds.
I am sighing in relieve that someone out there has "been there, done that" when it comes to my FEELINGS about weight loss and what the future holds. The future is looking pretty damn good - I think I just might be on the verge of "getting it".
Joan
255/226/155
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Author: Otta-no-better
Date: 11-03-04 12:36
Yer welcome. Call on me any time. Ya know ... a lot of what I said to you, I learned right here. Michelle was about ready to bonk me on the head about exercise before I finally twigged that I should try some.
You can email me if you'd like.
Susan lost 40 lbs in 17 months
At goal, under 124 lbs since Sept. 10/04
Eat your protein, muscle is key
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