Prayer, Body Talk, Rest....and I should have updated for the challenge TODAY ...:)

Tanita-san: 178.6

That's more than a half-pound down from yesterday.

I should have updated for the CDCC challenge today,  instead of a day early. HAH.

A few days ago, I'd asked my hubby to pray for my body to want to be a lower weight. One morning (a few days ago), he kneeled by the bed and laid his hand on my thigh and prayed before going to work. Usually, that means he's praying cause I didn't feel well (and I spent many years as a virtual invalid, so he's used to praying at my bedside over me). He said he was praying also for what I had asked, that my body would desire to break the stall and move down again.

I exercised less. I rested more. I ate more some days, upping carbs a bit, as I saw some do to break stalls. I prayed more. I talked to my body more.

Well, whatever, some folks will laugh, but you never know what is the thing, or the combination of things, including FAITH, that will help.

Perhaps this week, the deciding factor was just that: a man whose heart was full of love saying  a prayer.

Thanks for the comments on the update post. My allergies and asthma are radically better, even if no cured. I used to be bedbound for weeks and months out of the year. I had to quit working when I was 30 cause I was gasping all day at work, and even part-time was beyond my ability. I was suicidal at various points, thinking it was hopeless and I'd never get better.

Well, eating better, exercising how I could manage, on days I could manage, taking herbs, taking supplements, seeing different doctors, trying different meds...just not giving up. And so..here I am..in a better place overall with my health, though my defective body will never be normal, barring divine intervention.

Research. Not giving up. Trying new things. Faith.

It worked for me in more than one area of life already, and I figure I'll keep using that in other areas and on other flaws I want to improve.

So, if you're a faith sort of person, have someone you love lay hands on you and just PRAY for you to lose some weight this week. Could it hurt? No. Could it help?  I always believe they can....I always hope for the mountain to move....even if just smidge. :D

Happy Sunday.

CDCC Update #7: A new low, a week of rest (and bit of wheezing and aching), and veggie sushi cravings...

Tanita-san: 179.2

1 pound down from last week, but more significantly, it puts me at the 120 lbs off, ticker-wise, and it's a break from the weird little stuck scale and eerie 180.4 repetitions of weeks past. :)

I had been a bit unwell since Monday. Allergies--stuffier nose, a bit wheezier bronchii, rashy bits on neck and arms. I've also been having bad joint pains. Part of me wonders if the 1 point increase in my TSH can be behind some stuff (itchiness, joint pain, less energies on some days). Could be. I know I have no steroid buffer now (not for over 2 months), so I am feeling the pollens more than I would were I medicated up the wahoo.

Food front: I still stick to about 2 meals/2 meals + snack. This week, mostly 2 meals plus snack. It seems to be the eating pattern that satisfies me most, as I can get two good-sized meals and then not be hungry for many hours, and not think about food at all between meals. I like that. NOT thinking about food other than when I get the, "Oh, I'm hungry. Time to eat" signal. Most of this year, in fact, has been in that, "Food is not obsessing my brain" mode, and may it stay that way. I hated going to bed thinking about breakfast, eating breakfast and thinking about lunch, eating lunch and wondering about dinner....

I don't get cravings much anymore, not the daily or multiple times daily like in the past, so when I got hit with sushi cravings, I decided to give in, since the nori might help some with the thyroid thing. Ya never know. Could help. So, I've had sushi (and the rice, egads!, the carbs) 3x this week. I can't have seafood, so it's vegetarian stuff. I have whey protein or chicken or eggs to round out the protein when I have sushi. It's been nice. I put it on a pretty square Japanese platter, drink green tea or oolong with it, and just watch an anime to get into my J-vibe. :D

I also rested a lot this week. The wheeziness and achy joints means I pretty much took it easy. I walked 2x and did Pilates once (cancelled Monday's appt, as I just was feeling seriously tired).

Energy was back higher on a few days, lower on others. I am thinking it's good I see the endo in 1.5 months (I normally see her every 6 months), cause I really need to get back in my happy TSH zone. I am having too many "thyroid is off" symptom--like weird chills now and then.

The rest was nice. I admit it, just vegging out sometimes is psychically therapeutic, even if part of me is thinking, "Oh, I wanna go walk."

Calories have been in the 1500, a bit less some days, a bit more other days. Fluids are great. I have posted on some challenger blogs. But my energy level is not at peak this week--fighting allergies and asthma uptick takes its toll, I'm afraid--so my apologies to the fellow bloggers that I missed.

I'm very pleased with my 1 pound loss, I must say. I was worried about not moving as much as I'm used to. I console myself with De Vany's idea that it's good to surprise the body. Work harder some weeks. Rest some. Eat very light some days. Eat heavier some. Just keep the body guessing.

Maybe I needed to do just that.

Happy weekend, folks. And be well...

Back, just barely, in the 170s (whew!) and feeling..well, damn hot; used to new portions? :D

Tanita-San: 179.8

That was unexpectedly nice to see...again.

After my last post, we had a busy couple days. Family party--my sister made extra shredded chicken for me, so I didn't have to eat from the mixed Imperial Rice, and could limit my rice serving, and did I mention how much I appreciate my sisses being supportive? I didn't have any of the non-Princess-friendly breads, appetizers, etc. Just the bit of rice with lots of tasty creole shredded chicken breast and salad.

Part of my usual "family tempting event" strategy is go go prepped: I took my own diet beverages and sugar-free jello to enjoy when everyone else was having cake and ice cream. I took a Larabar for "just in case" and had half later in the evening.  Only had a mild twinge at seeing the cake cut (the chocolate part, anyway), and then it passed. Just a fleeting little "aw, wish I could" and then realized it would NOT taste as good as my fantasy cake would, so why bother. I'm talking no more than, say, 20 seconds of cake reflection, and it passed.

And I ate my gelatin and drank my coffee and had a good time chatting. Got asked a lot about how I was eating to lose. Got called "skinny" and "hey, slim". And every time I passed a mirror, quite frankly, I thought I looked great. My skin was glowing. My hot pink lipstick was da bomb with my skin tone. My curls shone. My cleavage was assisted by a good bra. And I felt pretty. I spent more than 20 years feeling pretty ugly, so I can tell you, this was beyond wonderful.

As my regular readers know, I haven't binged in more than 17 months. I've only overeaten in a significant--ie, more than 2000 calories-- though not bingey way, maybe a half dozen times tops in the last year. I've become accustomed to moderate eating (though not VLCD, though I did some under 1000 cal days this year).

Well, I was eating out with one of my sisters yesterday, and I hit the salad bar as my option. In the past, salad bars were multiple trips of heaping plates. Some days, I'd have 6 or 7 plates there, each one having been pretty nicely filled. I easily could have consumed a cup of blue cheese dressing or more on the worst, binge-y days. I'd eat until I could barely move.

Yesterday, I had one veggie-intensive plate, with eggs and cheese for my proteins. I was sad they didn't have fruit (I'd have filled at least half a plate with some). I went back for about 1/2 cup more of veggies, but didn't finish it. So, one plate did me, along with one rib from the take-out I got for hubby.

When folks tell you you can get used to moderate servings, it seems impossible when you're in the midst of binges and overeating daily and hungry-constantly mode and can't-stay-on-a-diet-past-3pm mode. You simply can't believe it.

Then it happens and you go: "Oh, this is nice."

I'm not stupid. I know that if I allowed myself to eat a lot, my body would get used to that again, and my appetite would open up again (especially if I go uber-carby again). Vigilance is always necessary for someone like me with a crazy food thing somewhere in my brain.

But for now, it's nice to go out and just not feel like I have to inhale up the menu's offerings. To not even miss dessert. To offer the biscuits or garlic toast to a neighboring table. Just let it go. It's never as good as feeling alive and in control. It's just not.

Although I'd rather you not wave Black Forest Cake under my nose, K? ; )

To all challengers and fatfighters and maintainers...keep at it, be well...

CDCC Update #6: At least it's not 180.4...but I'm definitely in plateau, and I'm gonna do some intensive looking into set points....

Tanita-San 180.2

I even took a pic with today's Sunday paper, cause the first time I stood on the scale, it said 180.4 for the SEVENTH STRAIGHT DAY, and I decided to make some coffee, pick out what I'm gonna wear to the party, look at some books to download on my Nook, and then I weighed again and it was...180.2.

I've come to the conclusion I am actually, finally, dammitedly in plateau. I ate moderately, exercised. Yesterday, I danced for 2 hours, ate 1175 calories (first time UNDER 1200). I've slept pretty decently on the days I could sleep my full complement.

I looked at other stuff, too. My TSH: it's up 1 point. That shouldn't send me into plateau, but who knows. Maybe. I tend to feel best in a very narrow range, and when I had a thyroid flare (a small autoimmune response), I figured it might affect my number. It did. But 1 point up shouldn't do this. (Will recheck in December, and hopefully, we can get me into my best range if I'm not there.)

I spent a year losing pretty steadily. I never hit resistance until this summer. Now, there's no question in my mind.

So, I'm gonna look into set point. I really think I've hit one. And what often happens when a legitimate plateau is hit, is that folks get frustrated, give up, and often start regaining. I don't want to do that. I want to find a way down. There's a Harvard nutrition expert who says we should only lose 10% of our weight at a time, maintain for 6 months, and let the set point lower, than go into another 10% losing phase. Well, a bit late for me to do that, as I lost steadily, not in phases. BUT...at least I have that lifeline: If I can maintain for 6 months, my set point may adjust downwards. That's always a star of hope, yes?

But I want to lose sooner. And I don't want to do super-low calories to do that. I SHOULD be losing how I"m eating. Should. Ain't. Meanwhile, I press on:

This week I:

Exercise: Exceeded minimum
Fluids: Met
Calories: Mostly around 1500, but a couple lower days, and one under 1200.
Support: I've posted on various blogs.
Book: I'm reading a bit in one of my challenge books, but more in new ones to address the plateau/set point issue.
Dress: Doesn't fit, natch. And likely will not by December. I bought another one for the shorter range and will save the lace one for the longer range.

I'm pressed for time again today, so the quotes and scale pic will have to be added later.

I will add that the outfit I was gonna wear is too baggy. I only got to wear the fitted capris once, and the matching gold-flecked top. That part was frustrating. the "too baggy now" part is nice. Since it's nearly pristine (worn once!), I'll pass it on to a relative who could use it. 

I hope my fellow-challengers are hanging in, not quitting, doing well, still motivated, still hopeful. And above all...feeling HEALTHIER.

Be well...