Weekly weigh-in: 237
Loss: .7 lbs
Total loss: 54.5 lbs.
Emotion: Tiny bit dissatisfied
Small loss this week, and–truth to tell–I was happy to get it. Again, I was flirting with a sodium-caused water-weight gain of a couple of pounds as late as yesterday, and it made me stop and take a hard look at what I’ve been doing.
I’m pretty satisfied with my progress, but I realize that it’s going to be tough sledding from here on out. I’m not a calorie counter or a carb denyer, per se, but I think I’ve had a pretty good handle on what I’ve been eating.
Except…
When I stopped to think about it, I’ve lapsed into some small bad habits that might be slowing my progress. A bite or two of cheese here, little heavy on the soy sauce there. Nibbling out of the serving bowl, more bread than I normally eat, cleaning every speck of food off my plate and not paying attention to the portions… it doesn’t necessarily take a full-blown binge to nudge you off course.
Exercise will forgive a lot of sins. I know a guy that works out every day, and he told me that he does it because he loves cookies. Loves ‘em. Can’t live without ‘em. He spends an hour a day in the gym so he can enjoy the cookies without the guilt or the consequences.
If I’ve lost a tiny bit of focus on the food front, I feel like I’ve compensated to some degree by pushing myself a little harder in the gym. I’ve increased the time and intensity of my workouts, so I probably minimized the damage of my not-too-bad/not-too-stellar food choices.
This week, I’m going to work on getting all my ducks back in a row. All of this thinking about small things has got me dreaming big, and I’d love to see what a focused week of intense exercise and mindful eating could accomplish.
I suspect the results would be some fireworks on the scale.
The thing is, he's only minimizing the visible consequences. He could be whacking the heck out of his arteries with his oh-so-delicious cookie fix.
ReplyDeleteNot that I'm giving up cookies any time soon myself :)
SeaShore has a good point about the cookies, but I've definitely had that attitude before... "Oh, I am exercising a lot, so I can eat whatever and not worry about it." That's not really the smartest thing, is it?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I just really love your attitude. It's half the battle to recognize when you are slipping back a little and being to regain focus in time to mitigate any potential damage.
More power to you!
Hey Jack! Such a serious post today! I can understand where you're coming from. I have had to take a step back here and there to help me refocus. I tend to fall into the "bites, licks and tastes" trap and it's funny how those all add up.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you are able to reflect on what's not working for you and move on to a motivated week!
Good luck this week! Quack, quack ;P
Great job! All the little losses add up!
ReplyDeleteThe closer you get to your goal the more impact all those "little things" can have...I've been learning that the hard way lately!
Here's to a great week!
I know for a guy that seems like a small loss. Id be happy with a week like that- but like you said- you lost a little focus on the food front. You certainly did not slip up adn binge or fall off the wagon all week- but all of those BLT (bites, licks and tastes) add up. Or so my WW leader always reminds us! lol
ReplyDeleteI think you had a good loss...So, CONGRATS!! All of those small losses add up my friend! :)
We have a saying in my country about the little things that do the most damage... Nowhere is it more true than when it comes to eating habits. But you can reign it in!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've got a handle on things and know what to do from here on out. Those ducks will be in a row before you know it! :)
ReplyDeleteI am going to tell you congrats on that .7 loss. Any loss is a step in the right direction. I'm going to give you a bigger congrats for analyzing what's going on and for your stepped up workouts.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like having reservations about dipping your hand into the communal plate is part of the bigger mentality of holding yourself back all the time, no?
ReplyDeleteIt's VERY challenging for me to leave food on my plate, unless I'm just STUFFED.
So I do better if can channel the reserved thinking as it comes to my plate (half portions) etc. And to feed that reservation, the practice seems to be repeating, "not yet, or that's not for you" during the prep.
I think crafting that attitude will carry you further than trying to exercise it off. There will be days or events that make exercise hard or challenging--like injuries. But you always will be making choices about food.
You are such a winner and a force. And you are succeeding so wonderfully (you might start noticing a pattern to your weight loss. . .like one smaller loss week, then a medium loss, then a POW! Also don't forget to focus on the nonscale wonders--like more energy, more self-confidence, change in your shape. . . and being able to hum . .. don't forget that one!!). . . good for you for slowing down to analyze a bit.
Thanks for all your wonderful support, my friend.
yah, I know what you mean...I had a chicken breast that I haven't been weighing on my scale. turns out I have been eating a double portion and an extra 330 calories every time I do it. No wonder I am losing slower...whooops. NOt all prepackaged food is measured correctly. Keep up the introspection, it's working. Isn't it getting a bit drafty without your clothes ;)
ReplyDeleteChris
Chrislivessimple.blogspot.com
Sounds like you are moving in the right direction. A loss is a loss, right?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I like how you always keep yourself in check. You don't seem to be in denial about things like some people are.
By the way, I know for a FACT that my dryer shirnks all of my clothes. It's true! It has nothing to do with the pizza and booze.
Hey! We'll take any loss we can get...so don't you dare feel disappointed. However, good for you for being willing to analyze and tweak things a bit. I'm betting the next weigh-in is going to mirror your focus this week! :)
ReplyDeletequack quack
ReplyDeleteDon't make me beat you again Saturday.
go get em!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with rearranging your ducks. And congrats on your weight loss! Great job!
ReplyDeleteMr. Sh*t,
ReplyDeletemyfitnesspal.com is working out pretty well for me. I wasn't tracking all of my calories, carbs, fat, surgars, etc., and tracking that info this week has made a BIG difference. You'll see on the weigh-in tomorrow.
Also, I had a friend show me a 99 cent calorie-counting app on his iphone. After every meal, he enters his info on his iphone. My bud also mentioned he tracks EVERYTHING. He owns a deli, and he even tracks little snacks such as one dorito.
I hope you have a good week.
Jumping Jack Sh*t, He's Got Gas, Gas, Gas.
Ah, you're doing fine. You're right on track because you're analyzing the situation to see where you could improve, not wallowing. Next time around, when I see those fireworks in the sky, I'll know you just step on the scale again.
ReplyDeleteHello! I hear ya' on the "taste of this, a bit of that..." front. I used to make it through the day eating perfectly fine, but then get to my night job (wine shop) and find myself "tasting" all sorts of things: wine, crackers, cheese...simply because it was there in front of me.
ReplyDeleteIt took a while for me to break that habit, but I'm glad I was able to!
Good luck this week!
I keep reading your comments on other blogs & love your humor & FINALLY I get myself over here to your blog! Perfect timing too cause I can so relate to the guy that exercises so he can eat cookies!
ReplyDeleteI have said many times on my blog when I explain the intensity of my exercise & how many calories I eat.. it is because I rather exercise more so I can eat more, even if it is healthy food.. I don't want to eat just 1200 -1400 calories a day. I am 5'1' & 51.5 years old so if I did not exercise as much, I could not eat like I want to... and that does include my FAV WEEKEND COOKIE TREATS! Big ole cookies from a bakery. Not store bought!
On the things you discussed today with your eating habits lately.. I did a couple posts on a challenge for people after I saw a story on a lady that was eating close to 1000 calories extra each day by picking at food! This lady could not understand why she was not losing weight. Her nutritionist suggested she carry a Ziploc bag with her & instead of eating the food she wanted to pick at, put it in the bag. That is how they found out is was close to 1000 extra calories! SO, I challenged my readers to do that if they could not figure out why they were not losing weight. Looks like you understand it already though!
Anyway, I have rambled on...I will be coming back. Again, I love your responses on other blogs & can't believe you are such a newbie at this!
Do I sense another James Bond post coming soon?
ReplyDeleteSeriously, you just know it will be a humungous loss next week (or there will be Trouble)!
It's so hard to look honestly at what we do, day in and day out - it's easier to pretend everything's fine. You're an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI think you just like being nekked, so you are taking your sweet time getting to your 60 pound goal.
ReplyDeleteI'm new here, but I'm amazed at how much you've lost. I'm just starting on my weight loss journey and I've only lost 15. Keep going!!
ReplyDeleteYou're doing phenominal! Keep up the amazing work...and you're really in tune with yourself. That 100% self-honesty stuff is a huge element of success on this road.
ReplyDeleteKeep going---do the fine tuning you need---and get ready for an even more amazing transformation for you in mind-body-and spirit. You're incredible my friend.
My best always
Sean
The little ones do add up! You're doing great!
ReplyDeleteoo la la Jacque! Turns out size does matter after all!
ReplyDeleteWay to watch it, guy!
Good timing this post for me I must admit. I am still losing weight ( enforced low fat diet at the moment) but a bit too sluggishly. Probably the industrial quantities of wine which I have decided to slow down this week ( nothing til Thursday night). I am also eating a tad too much sugar to make up on the lack of fat ( comfort emotional eating pattern) And the worst of it- too little exercise.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration
yeah, it seems, at least for me, once i see the scale moving in the negative direction, i think its ok to have some things i wouldnt have if the scale wasnt moving down. not talking about binging or eating a tostito bag for dinner, but, you know, the odds and ends that wouldnt normally be part of the repertoire. i agree, sometimes i feel like a good workout negates some bad food choices. but practice makes perfect here, or something to that effect.
ReplyDeleteAs I wrote in this post, sometimes just not gaining weight is a triumph: http://losingweightafter45isabitch.blogspot.com/2009/04/never-mind-losing-weight-just-not.html
ReplyDeleteUp your exercise, find ways to cut some more calories, and eventually, the weight will start coming off again.
Sometimes I think good habits are like a see-saw. When one goes Up (hooray, ate healthy all week) it seems like another goes Down (oh crap, forgot to pay bills). It's like there's only so much willpower to go around!
ReplyDeleteyou n me both, Jack. Similar WI's, similar responses. I've been doing the same.. upping the workouts, but not paying enough attention to the food habits.
ReplyDeleteWe are going to ROCK the scale this week. Game ON buddy. Game on!
Yep, too many little nibbles can add up.
ReplyDeleteBUT - some weeks you just lose a little, you know?
Can't wait to see the results next week, though!
Line up those ducks baby!
ReplyDeleteEven if it's just a little loss, its still a loss!! Good for you for really examining your eating habits.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the fireworks!