Sunday, January 22, 2012

E2E Update #3: Regaining some ground, waist dipped, still not meeting goals as I'd like..and some quasi-Nicoisey comfort...as I dream of the 35-35-30 sweet spot for this week...

Tanita-san: 180.8                                         Waist: 34.75

Last Update:  181.2                                       Waist 35
Intitial weight: 183.0                                       Waist 35

I've really focused on the first of my challenge quotes this week to help me regain ground, and on the second quote, a Bible verse, to keep me going despite feeling "less than". I choose to believe in both "greater rewards" for present sacrifice and in a better future, as the Lord wills:

"The ability to discipline yourself to delay gratification in the short term in order to enjoy greater rewards in the long term is the indispensable prerequisite for success." 
~Maxwell Maltz

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 
~Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Though I hate going below 1500 cals, I had a couple roughly 1200-1300 cal days, split between two meals.  I don't feel satisfied with itsy bitsy 300 or so cal meals. I do feel satisfied with 600-650 cal meals...so this is how I roll these days. When I eat 1500-1600, I just add a smaller yogurt-berry-nuts meal or a protein shake or some other "lesser" meal.

I have not felt hungry. I have felt cravings. I've been in this dieting gig long enough to know the difference. If it's a particular food I want, but I tell myself I can have this other on-plan food, and my mouth doesn't want it, it's a craving. For instance:

My craving: "Oh, lasagna sounds good."
Me: "You can have steamed broccoli with some lowfat cheddar."
My craving: "No, I want lasagna. Or pizza."
Me: "You can have a pear with walnuts. Or veggie soup. Now, pick one."
Craving: "Forget it. :::pout:::"
Me: "Fine."

I also let my hand go to where I'm FEELING the food desire. If it's more face/throat/mouth--it's emotional or oral craving. If it's more to the belly, and especially if I feel emptier than normal, that sort of "light" feeling, it's hunger.

If I drink water or wait 30 minutes and it lessens, it's a craving or thirst. If I wait 30 minutes and it's worse, it's hunger.

And having cravings return is probably due to the general "not feeling well" thing. When I feel draggy, my brain probably interprets it as, "Oh, I need food, cause I'm not energetic." Well, I didn't' need food, so I had to tell the cravings to take a hike. Repeatedly. Sigh.

I did give in to a craving last night. I wanted my mother's version of Nicoise salad. She used to make it with codfish, boiled potatoes, boiled green beans, boiled eggs, and olive oil.

I had some organic taters, so I boiled them up. I can't have seafood, and I didn't have any green beans, so it was just 2 boiled eggs, taters, olive oil and salt. In a small portion. Not the big ones I'd eat of my mom's. It was really very comforting. Something in me wanted comfort (hence the pizza, lasagna trigger bingey food cravings, too), maybe just cause I didn't feel WELL this month, this week. It hit the spot. 300 calories of comfort. QUASI-NICOISEY. (kwah-see nee-Swah-see, which is fun to say!)

I'm gonna get some green beans, and maybe have it again with some added non-starchy veggies, or just dump it on greens. Wish I could have the codfish, too, but wishes won't get me a new immune system, so....

Fluids were great.

Exercise: Goals not met, but I had one very good Pilates session (1 hour) and 3 walking days (30 mins).  I was short 1 walking session and 1 strengthening session.

Support: I met the minimum and then some, but I have not been very active commenting/reading blogs, like in the past.

Book: I dipped into SMARTER SCIENCE OF SLIM, as I got myself a softcover version (I had the e-book). It's easier to flip back and forth and I like using my highlighters. I was calculating how to make it work with fewer calories and not REGAIN....with the reality that I do very well (or did in the past) when I was in the 35-35-30 or 40-30-30 macronutrient ratios.  I really need to keep fat to 30% and carbs no more than 40%, and that was always my sweet spot. About 100 grams of carbs (400 cals of carbs), 100 to 150 g of protein (400-600 cals, Smarter Science of Slim would recommend 150 grams  ) As you can see, that's already 800 to 1000 calories worth, which leaves about 400 calories for fat. That's 1200-1400 minimum! I start regaining when I near 1700, so 1600 is kinda my "border marker". If I use more calories, I'd go for fat--cause I like using nuts and olive oil and coconut oil.

Mood: Considering the lethargy, pretty good. I keep the faith. And the hope.

So, I continue to work on it. I believe I can find a livable, enjoyable eating plan in those ratios. Just gotta do the work.

This week, my goal is to implement my adaptation of SSofS's plan and to track consistently to check my ratios and get closer to what I think will benefit me most in this stage of my game, where regain is crazy easy, body doesn't need a lot of calories, making getting a deficit HARDER and HARDER and where my body is 


Always nurture the hope. And let's be very strong as we move on...no quitting!

8 comments:

Karen Butler Ogle said...

Your week may have had some hitches, Princess but you did better than me sticking to the plan. I'm still trying to get my head on straight. I wish us both a better week this week. :)

~Mom said...

Interesting thoughts on the 35 35 40 and 40 30 30. I know nothing about this and will try a do a little research this week. As for cravings I've done great till this Saturday. I wanted some comfort food like pizza, or anything that was hot and cheese filled! I resisted... my hunger was off the charts as well. You could hear my stomach growling across the room. After the 3rd time my husband said something like are you sure you don't want anything else. I knew it was just going to be a hungry day and why waste my calories on something that was not going to hit the spot.

Hopefully I'll get back to the satisfied feeling in a day or so.

I hope your week goes well and congrats on the loss. I can't wait to have a 34 inch waist!

Anonymous said...

You're gonna hit the 170's pretty quick here!!

Betty W said...

Yup,I´ve got to take it more seriously this next week too. I did the math too and I´ve been eating too many calories, that´s why I´m just maintaining.
You sound like you´re a little better this week, hoping this for you.
congrats on the loss, you´re almost back to the 170´s!

Julie said...

YEAH!!! Mir, you're getting there. You always have great thoughts and ideas and goals. You can do this Mir. I am proud of all that you've done. Keep it up Mir.
Take care and have a great week. Blessings!!

Debsdailylife said...

YES!! Sounds like Princess is back! I love reading your insight!!

Jordan said...

What I'm making for breakfast these days is 1 cup of chopped onions, peppers and broccoli heads sauteed in a nonstick pan with a teaspoon of butter. Then add 1-1/2 ounces of HOT capicola chopped into small pieces, cook a little more, then scramble 3 eggs into all of that. 210 cals for the eggs, 80 cals for the capicola and 34 cals for the butter. I give myself free veggies, but maybe it's another 50 cals. 374 calories for a very spicy, satisfying brekky. (Then I add 170 calories for the light cream in my tea, but it's worth it!)
I've been running about 75-100 gm of protein per day and thinking about how to get more in. The problem is it's so darn satisfying! Let us know how you get your protein up.
That's a great description of craving vs real hunger. I've recently noticed the 'light' feeling that is real hunger, too. For me, craving seems more aggressive than real hunger. Real hunger is easier to put off than craving.
Have a great week this week!

Unknown said...

I fear getting in that thyroid funk again and keep thinking I should go in for the blood test to make sure all is well before it's not cause I'm about due for checking in again. I've been feeling good but I know how it can hit and take a while to get back to feeling normal again, I hope you find your way back soon. I have to kick my snacking to the curb so that's my focus misson this week and I look to the challengers like you for my inspiration to do so:-)