My poppa commented on my previous post and I wanted to share his comment and my response. Lots of good information and ideas for anyone trying to lose weight, or get healthy.
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Poppa Said:
Hey Baboo,
This is all info that’s available in just about every reasonable book on weight control, but it’s what works for me.
Weight control shouldn’t be thought of as deprivation, but as a way of life. A life of deprivation isn’t worth living unless you’re a masochist (I’m a hedonist, myself). You’ve got to develop eating habits that you enjoy and can live with. You’ll fail if you don’t. You’re fighting evolution and instinct.
Instead of, or in addition to veggie snacks, eat fruit or nuts. Fruit is more fun (and good for you too), and nuts are more satisfying (fats to stick with you until the next meal). The most important thing that’s worked for me now and in the past is to ALWAYS EAT SOMETHING AS SOON AS YOU GET HUNGRY! Not a lot, portion control is critical. When you have a snack of nuts, have 10 or 12, nuts, not handfuls. Then stop. It takes a while for your brain to realize something’s in your stomach. If you’re still hungry 20 minutes later, eat something else. Not letting yourself get hungry minimizes the urge to eat like a starving wolf the next time you do eat.
And DON’T EAT WHEN YOU’RE NOT HUNGRY! Duh!
And DON’T FREAK OUT WHEN YOU OVERINDULGE! Enjoy it, knowing that perfection in anything is a goal, never a destination. But make it the exception rather than the rule. Go back to reasonable eating, secure in the knowledge that you can eat whatever you want sometimes, just not most of the time.
Don’t make weight loss your goal; make new holes in your belt your goal. 4 pounds in six days is too much. You’re losing muscle mass and water as well as fat and you don’t want that.
Here endith the sermon.
Your exercise program sounds great. I haven’t gotten that rolling for me yet, but for the first time in a long time I feel (and am) more active.
Love ya.
Poppa (down to 282 from a high of 307 last summer, though some of it isn’t my doing).
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“Baboo” (Erin) said:
Congrats on the increased activity and the weight loss!
I appreciate all your advice and input. Keep it coming!
As a person that has weighed myself a lot in the last year, I can guarantee you that it is a waste of time to only look at your weight. It fluctuates SO MUCH in one day, and so many factors attribute to it.
For example:
Last Tuesday I was 178.5 pounds, this Tuesday I was 172.5.
That looks like I lost 6 pounds in one week. Not healthy!
Last Wednesday I was 176.5 pounds, this morning I was 174.
That looks like I lost 2.5 pounds in one week. That’s more like it. I’ve read somewhere that the “healthy” weight loss rate is 2 pounds per week.
I look at weight because it is the easiest thing to track on a weekly basis. And by weighing daily I learn more about what affects my weight and how. I’m also tracking my measurements (arms, waist, thighs, etc.), but I’m only doing that once a month. In the beginning of February, I will share my measurement results. I’m also keeping track of my progresses in exercise. Last week I was only able to do 5 dips, this week I can do 10! I know that my exercises will increase my muscle and that will make weight go up. So I won’t cry about a drastic increase in pounds as long as I feel stronger and healthier.
I agree 110% with your statement “Weight control shouldn’t be thought of as deprivation, but as a way of life. A life of deprivation isn’t worth living unless you’re a masochist.” That is why I am trying to focus on lifestyle changes. Last summer I tried what could best be described as a deprivation diet. I was provided with a list of items I could eat. You know it is bad when the list of items you can’t eat is longer than the list of items you can…I couldn’t even eat corn!!! Madness! I lost a lot of weight on that diet, but I felt like crap! I couldn’t eat some of my favorite foods, and I felt physically and mentally drained. I counted my calories and realized I was consuming less than 1,000 calories a day on that diet. I’d rather be fat and happy than skinny and deprived. Food makes me happy. Junk food makes me really happy. But being healthy and having the ability to be as active as I want, will make me even happier.
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This is what I made for dinner tonight. Chicken with Sweet Corn and Potato Saute, from Rachel Ray.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars. Benjy liked the chicken, but not the corn and potato saute. He blames it on the parsley.
